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LaTia Veal refuses to be put in a box. She is a mother of five and caregiver for her husband, U.S. Army veteran Ronald “Ron” Veal, but she is so much more than that. And she is ready to upend the thoughts of anyone who thinks of her as “one-dimensional.”��

She will do that by enrolling at University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) as a first-time undergraduate student thanks to a Pillars of Strength Scholarship, the highly competitive ��������scholarship earmarked for caregivers of military servicemembers.��

In addition to being a full-time caregiver to her husband for the last 13 years, Veal has worked in the food service and customer service industries since the age of 14. Wanting to expand her horizons, she earned a trucking dispatcher certification and put that certification to use by starting her own dispatching business. Although entrepreneurial by nature, she now recognizes that she lacked the preparation to run a business.

“I wasn’t ready, but the business courses I’ll take at ��������will ensure I’m ready to start my next business venture,” she said.��

These days, Veal assists another dispatch company owner with many aspects of his business, an experience that has given her additional insights into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into operating a successful venture.��

Veal’s desire to return to school was sparked by her children, who range in age from 11 to 19. Inspired by the opportunities her children are pursuing—Jermaine, for example, is following in his father’s footsteps by enlisting in the Army—she decided it was her turn to realize her own dreams.

“It’s in me. It’s been in me for so long. I have something to prove,” she explained. She is excited about joining the ��������community, where she sees herself reflected in the university’s diverse leadership and body of learners. Veal said the breadth of support that ��������provides to members of the armed forces and their families also makes her feel welcome.��

The Pillars of Strength Scholarship will affect not only her but her entire family, she said, because the full-tuition scholarship will enable her to study while still providing for her family. And a Bachelor of Business Administration won’t be the end of it.��

��“I don’t see myself stopping. I will probably go for my master’s next,” she said. A parallel goal is to start another business, one that will allow her to fulfill her caregiving responsibilities while working.

Veal wants to “leverage education as a potent catalyst for positive change within my community,” and she envisions establishing a business that will allow her to help single parents in Colorado who are struggling financially.��

When she’s not caring for her family in Peyton, Colorado, Veal serves as the children’s choir director at her church, supports her son’s basketball team and volunteers with a local back-to-school summer program. She also exercises regularly and enjoys crafting in Cricut and resin.����

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