Foundation Connections

Hailey Losievsky, a recipient of the 2024 NBCC Foundation’s Military Scholarship, exemplifies how GivingTuesday funding supports students dedicated to unique counseling fields, such as military mental health. Currently pursuing her degree at Walden University with an anticipated graduation in 2026, she hopes to focus on providing mental health care for service members, veterans, and their families. Growing up as the daughter of an Army officer, serving in the Army, and now being the spouse of an active-duty soldier, her life has been interwoven with military service. Hailey shares, “I have had invaluable experience as a military child, service member, and spouse that serves as the catalyst for my desire to work in veteran’s mental health and serve a population that has given me so much.” Her passion for counseling within the military community speaks to the value of scholarships for individuals committed to transforming lives.  

For Hailey, the NBCC Military Scholarship is a validation of her journey. Upon learning she’d received the award, she felt “profoundly grateful and honored.” It’s not only recognition of her hard work but also a belief in her vision for the future of mental health care for veterans and military families. Her experiences fuel her desire to help others navigate the complex emotions tied to military life, providing clients with a safe space to process their feelings away from the demands of daily life. She describes her vision of success as creating an environment that offers room for self-discovery and reflection for service members and veterans. This goal speaks to the heart of the NBCC Foundation’s mission and the importance of scholarship funding.  

The road to becoming a mental health counselor is often challenging, especially for those balancing multiple roles, as she does as a wife, mother, and student. Her inspiration to continue comes from her lived experiences and the many challenges she’s faced as a member of the military community. She recalls moments of loneliness and struggle, from frequent moves and isolation to the pressures of balancing her role as a military spouse. These challenges remind her of the profound need for specialized mental health support that truly understands the distinct nature of military life. She encourages others considering a similar path to immerse themselves in the culture, highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity when working with military clients. “The military lifestyle faces unique challenges. It’s helpful to understand how this manifests in how service members or veterans contextualize their lives and problems,” she explains.  

With each donation on GivingTuesday, the NBCC Foundation can support students like Hailey, enabling them to pursue their passions and make a real difference in underserved communities. Although the Foundation’s scholarships support a variety of specializations, funding students dedicated to military mental health has a significant impact on those serving or who have served. This counselor-in-training is well aware of the unique mental health challenges faced by service members, from substance abuse as a coping mechanism to stigma surrounding mental health treatment and limited access to private counseling services. By addressing these issues with an insider’s understanding, she aims to foster a supportive environment where military clients feel safe seeking help.  

How You Can Help on GivingTuesday 

The power of GivingTuesday lies in collective action, and there are several ways you can make a difference: 

• Make a donation: Every contribution goes directly toward scholarships, empowering aspiring counselors to follow their callings and support communities in need. 

• Spread the word: Share stories of scholarship recipients on social media, talk to others about the importance of mental health support in underserved areas, and use the hashtag #GivingTuesday to raise awareness. 

• Advocate for mental health: Supporting mental health policies at community and institutional levels helps build a more robust support network for underserved populations. 

This GivingTuesday, join us in making a meaningful impact by supporting future counselors whose dedication and unique insights promise a brighter future. Together, we can make a difference, one scholarship and one act of kindness at a time.