The big move to college from high school is intimidating for anyone, but Anyia Woods had a surprising reminder of past comfort when she saw that one of her scholarship applications, the one to the Scholarships for Military Children Program, was from Fisher House.

That’s because Anyia, who is studying neuroscience, previously stayed at Fisher Houses in Virginia when her mother was sick as a member of the Navy.

“I’m going to University of Iowa, and I’m excited,” Anyia said. “When I visited Iowa, I knew that was where I wanted to be.”

Like most students, Anyia was worried about costs and looked for scholarships. Her mother, Diana, worked with another military charity who pointed her to Fisher House’s scholarships program. Fisher House administers two scholarships. The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize military families’ contributions to the fighting force’s readiness. The Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship program honors service members who have died or become 100 percent disabled during active military service since September 11, 2001.

Anyia Woods stayed at the Portsmouth and Richmond Fisher Houses as a child when her mother was hurt in the U.S. Navy.

“I remember Anyia talking about her journey and how Fisher House was a part of it,” Diana said.

Anyia’s first experiences with Fisher House came as a child when the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Fisher House and the Richmond VA Medical Center Fisher House supported her family while Diana was in the hospitals there.

“I remember being the first kid on the playground, the new playground at Richmond,” Anyia said. The memory was one that stuck out for her, even though she was young at the Fisher Houses and didn’t remember everything.

“A lot of the stories that my family tells me about Fisher House are about comfort. Like, Easter, how we had a little Easter egg hunt that was super fun and how nice the ladies were to me and how supportive they were.”

Now Anyia may soon become an expert on memory as she studies neuroscience.

“I am honored to be the recipient of the scholarship for military children,” Anyia said. “And not only because I was a part of the Fisher House when I was younger, but because they helped me and they helped my family through a very hard time and we’re all here and happy today and they helped us with our journey.”

People interested in Fisher Houses, its scholarship programs, or other services can learn more at FisherHouse.org.