*Article provided by the University of Phoenix*

“We are all uniquely made, and my passion is numbers.” Army spouse, Jessica Wolford has been selected as the 2019 recipient of the “Military Police Regimental Association” full Scholarship at University of Phoenix.

Wolford began an online Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting last month (October). Her husband, Bryce is assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division on Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, something she’s very proud of. “As isolating as the military can be, our military police can feel even more isolated because they serve an uphold the very laws that make the military functional.”

Brian Ishmael, Senior Director UOPX Office of Military and Veteran Affairs added that military spouses have an integral role. “These scholarships create the opportunity to pursue and reach their own goals, and it can have a direct and positive impact on the family as well as the mission.”

Jessica currently stays home with their 1.5 year old son, Jason. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business Management at Western Oregon University, and found accounting work very fulfilling. “We are surrounded by small business owners [bakers, electricians, crafters]. Knowing how to bake is very different from completing payroll or filing taxes. An MBA/ACCC will allow me to provide quality book-keeping so they can focus on their passions and skills.”

Wolford said her husband knew that earning a Master’s was a goal, but Jessica felt she “could not in good conscience take valuable financial resources away from the family.” Then, an MPRA representative shared information on the scholarship opportunity with the unit, and Bryce immediately thought of his wife—and she beat out the competition! Jessica said that her professors have been engaging, and she is “so incredibly impressed” with Enrollment Representative Tim Thaggard and Academic Advisor Nick Spano. She never felt alone.

Jessica wants to be professionally ready to return to the workforce after their son starts school. “I have sacrificed the last few years to support an incredible husband in the pursuit of his dreams. However, I believe we can pursue our dreams simultaneously. It is my dream to one day own my own accounting firm.”

While the support is evident, Wolford noted that her husband’s hours are often unpredictable, and both of their families still live in Oregon. “I hired a sitter on-post to watch my son two days a week while I’m in school. The only thing is, they PCS in December, so we’ll have to start the daycare process again.”

The Wolfords aren’t scheduled to transfer for at least two more years, and Jessica shared that her husband told her she inspired him to consider starting his Masters!

Since he’s active duty with Tuition Assistance, Jessica noted that “The biggest blessing about [TA and the MPRA Scholarship] is that it’ll free up the GI Bill for their son.”

Office of Military and Veteran Affairs is proud to support MPRA, and help create this opportunity for our military families, who serve the community in so many ways—including accounting!

Congratulations, Jessica!