Student Veterans of America and John Edelman Announce 2025 Scholarship Recipients

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 20, 2025) – Student Veterans of America (SVA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 John Edelman Scholars Scholarship.

Established by John Edelman to support outstanding student veterans pursuing degrees or careers in mental health counseling, these $10,000 scholarships recognize not only the exceptional achievements of the recipients but also their dedication to improving mental health services for the veteran community.

Please join us in congratulating this year’s John Edelman Scholars:

• Rachel Barlow – An Air Force veteran with extensive leadership experience, Rachel is passionate about empowering others to find their voice. From child welfare advocacy to supporting incarcerated individuals, she uses her leadership in the classroom and community to foster connections and bring important issues to light.
• Katherine Hurley – An Army Reservist, veteran, spouse, and former Combat Engineer, Katherine is committed to addressing the urgent need for behavioral health care among service members. She aspires to serve as a behavioral health practitioner for the Army, either on active duty or in civilian practice, ensuring soldiers receive the care they need to thrive.
• Zachary Marchun – Returning to school later in life while balancing family and other responsibilities, Zachary credits his Marine Corps service with building the confidence to lead, speak out, and champion important issues. He brings resilience, perspective, and a willingness to step outside his comfort zone to advocate for others.
• Brian Scheel – An Army veteran and Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology with a neuroscience focus at Texas A&M University, Brian is developing science-based PTSD interventions while providing therapy to veterans, incarcerated individuals, and underserved youth. His long-term vision is to establish a trauma recovery center integrating therapy, research, and housing.
• Eric Sowers – An Army combat veteran driven to reform the criminal justice system, Eric is pursuing a career in social work to address the needs of incarcerated and at-risk veterans. He applies the principles of service, resilience, and mentorship learned in uniform to create meaningful institutional change.

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For more information about the John Edelman Scholars Scholarship, visit https://studentveterans.org/programs-events/scholarships/john-edelman-scholars/

About Student Veterans of America
With a focused mission on empowering student veterans, Student Veterans of America® (SVA) is committed to providing an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through a dedicated network of over 1,600 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and 4 countries representing nearly 600,000 student veterans, SVA aims to inspire yesterday’s warriors by connecting student veterans with a community of like-minded chapter leaders. Every day these passionate leaders work to provide the necessary resources, network support, and advocacy to ensure student veterans can effectively connect, expand their skills, and ultimately achieve their greatest potential. For more information, visit us at www.studentveterans.org.