Ginny's Scholarship supports female veterans pursuing advanced degrees in mental health – WPTZ
The scholarship is launched in memory of Virginia “Ginny” Sweetser, a U.S. Army veteran
The scholarship is launched in memory of Virginia “Ginny” Sweetser, a U.S. Army veteran
The scholarship is launched in memory of Virginia “Ginny” Sweetser, a U.S. Army veteran
Virginia Sweetser, known to her friends and family is Ginny, was one of a kind according to her mom Susan Sweetser.
“Ginny is always in our heart. She is a Vermont kid through and through. (She was) born and raised in Vermont. (She) went through school in Vermont, except for her senior year of high school. She spent it at the National Sports Academy in in Lake Placid playing hockey. She was an amazing hockey player. She started college in Vermont, and she eventually migrated herself to Kansas City, Missouri. And when (the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks) happened, Ginny was just called (to join the military). It was a personal call, that she wanted to join the military to do something,” said Sweetser.
Ginny joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to the Middle East.
Her mom said that while abroad Ginny saw things that scarred her to the point of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, when she returned home.
But that didn’t stop Ginny from wanting to serve others.
She got her master’s degree in social work and helped people through their struggles.
“She was just an incredible, incredible therapist. She was amazing. She’d use her skills on me all the time,” said Sweetser.
But her personal battles took a toll.
Ginny took her life on December 11, 2020 and is laid to rest at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, where Sweetser visits her often.
“She couldn’t help herself. Ginny did so much good that we want to keep her good going,” said Sweetser.
Sweetser is honoring Ginny’s legacy through Ginny’s Scholarship. It’s a registered 501c3 nonprofit.
“The purpose of the scholarship is to help women veterans like Ginny who want to get an advanced degree, like Ginny did in psychology, psychiatry or social work and want to have a focus on helping people with PTSD,” said Sweetser.
Donations are currently being accepted.
“It’s a lot harder to find scholarship money for a master’s or an MD or a PhD. So that was important to us to be able to help somebody else. Because (the) military’s pretty good with their benefits for undergraduate, not as much for graduate. So that’s why we started this fund,” said Sweetser.
Money is also being raised through sales of IGY6; merchandise.
“(IGY6) means I got your back. I got your six. The semicolon is for people with PTSD to take a pause, the pause in a sentence. Because the pain that you’re experiencing right now will pass,” Sweetser explained.
To learn more about applying for or donating to Ginny’s Scholarship, click here.
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