Vikki Fishel, a USC School of Social Work graduate student, has won the Shannon Maxwell Award given by Hope For the Warriors, a national nonprofit organization that supports wounded U.S. servicemembers and their families. The $5,000 scholarship, which will help cover tuition, books and fees, is intended for the spouses and caregivers of wounded servicemembers and rewards these exceptional spouses for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite great adversity.

Fishel, a Master of Social Work student at the San Diego Academic Center, takes care of the day-to-day needs of her husband, who retired from the U.S. Navy after 27 years of service when an improvised explosive device blast left him with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“As a caregiver of a wounded warrior, it is nice to be afforded the opportunity to attend graduate school with the help of such awards,” said Fishel, whose concentration is mental health with a sub-concentration in military social work. “I plan to use my MSW to advocate for other wounded warriors and their families by providing counseling and services to lighten their stressful loads.”