New Scholarship Fund Launches to Support Women Veterans in Mental Health

A scholarship fund honoring Virginia “Ginny” Sweetser will begin awarding grants in early 2026 to support women veterans pursuing advanced degrees in mental health fields. This initiative aims to empower female veterans who, like Sweetser, have faced challenges in their military and personal lives.

Virginia Sweetser, who grew up in Essex Junction, Vermont, served in the Army Reserves and the Vermont Army National Guard after enlisting following the September 11 attacks. She was deployed to Iraq in 2004, where she operated heavy equipment in convoy missions. Upon her return, Sweetser pursued higher education, earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She became a licensed clinical social worker in both Missouri and Kansas, focusing her work on survivors of sexual assault and individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Tragically, Sweetser died by suicide in December 2020. In her memory, her family established Ginny’s Scholarship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women veterans in similar fields. “After her death, so many soldiers and people Ginny had counseled reached out to us to share how Ginny had saved their lives. The only life she couldn’t save was her own,” said Susan Sweetser, Ginny’s mother and a co-founder of the scholarship. “The scholarship was established to continue Ginny’s good works and to help other women veterans get their advanced degrees. The focus is on those who want to work with people struggling with PTSD.”

The scholarship is eligible for workplace giving programs, and to date, employee-match initiatives from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and J.P. Morgan Chase have recognized Ginny’s Scholarship for matching donations. To raise initial funds, the organization is hosting a quilt raffle, with the winner expected to be announced on Veterans Day.

Additionally, the organization is operating the “IGY6;” store until December 2, selling items that feature a message Sweetser shared in a TikTok video shortly before her passing. The phrase “IGY6;” stands for “I got your back,” with the semicolon symbolizing a pause and a reminder for those struggling with PTSD that their pain is temporary. Proceeds from the store will benefit the scholarship fund.

More information about the scholarship, including donation options and details about Sweetser’s story, is available at ginnysscholarship.org. This initiative not only honors Sweetser’s legacy but also aims to create a supportive community for women veterans pursuing careers in mental health.