Since 1956, the Hogg Foundation has awarded annual Ima Hogg Scholarships to social work graduate students who have committed to joining the mental health workforce in Texas. We firmly believe that supporting these students as they pursue their educational and career goals is a sound investment in the quality and quantity of mental health services across the state.
Many Texans lack access to quality care due to a severe shortage of mental health professionals. The Ima Hogg Scholarship recipients will play a vital role in addressing this urgent need.
This year, we’re happy to announce that we have awarded scholarships of $5,000 to 24 students pursuing a master’s degree at Council on Social Work Education accredited colleges and universities across the state. Nominated by faculty, they were selected in recognition of their commitment to strengthening the well-being of communities as professionals in the Texas mental health workforce.
The 2026 recipients are:
Miranda Aguilar
Our Lady of the Lake University
My grandparents’ commitment to helping others never went unnoticed by our family, especially me. I chose social work because of them.
Lacee Bills
Texas Christian University
My goal as a social worker is to equip my clients with the skills they need to navigate challenges and create new possibilities for their future.
Audrey Bioletto
Texas A&M University – Texarkana
I want to use my education and experience to ensure that everyone, no matter their background or circumstances, has access to the mental health care they need to thrive.
Kristy Caldwell
East Texas A&M University
As a social worker, I want to help individuals recognize their strengths and build confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles.
Damarius Charlot
Prairie View A&M University
My goal is to help youth aging out of foster care build a solid foundation, develop emotional resilience, and access the mental health support they deserve.
Ashley Davis
Stephen F. Austin State University
I strive to be a clinician who provides safety, empathy, and culturally responsive care, while also advocating for systemic change.
Tyli Emanuel
Baylor University
The Master of Social Work degree will allow me to expand from supportive roles to providing more direct and specialized services for children and families who face barriers to consistent care.
Lourdes Mendoza
Texas Woman’s University
I want to learn to combine the healing resources of yoga and therapy to help people through complex traumas.
Olyvia Scott Flanagan
Texas Tech University
The field of social work aligns closely with who I am as a person and allows me to put tangible action behind the values and principles by which I govern my life.
Claire Keene
University of North Texas
With social work, my goal is to provide a safe space for my clients where they are seen, understood, and empowered.
Lyza Ann Lopez
The University of Texas Permian Basin
I’m deeply committed to a community-first mindset and have decided to give back to the place that poured support into me growing up.
Danielle Monteros
The University of Texas at El Paso
I aspire to support my clients as they learn to overcome their own unique challenges. I greatly enjoy being a part of their journey as we work together to learn, grow, and challenge stigmas against mental health.
Ashley C. Otero
The University of Texas at Arlington
My goal is to work long-term in veteran and substance use services, creating accessible and compassionate spaces for healing, especially for those raised, like me, in environments where mental health was misunderstood
Emily Guadalupe Ramirez
Texas State University
My career goals center on fostering intentionality, reducing impulsivity, and supporting individuals in channeling their energy into healthy coping strategies that align with their values and help them build lives they find meaningful.
Latia Reed
Tarleton State University
My goal is to transform lived adversity into professional advocacy to expand access to compassionate mental health care.
Aniyah Robertson
University of Houston – Downtown
My goal is to support individuals and families who are navigating mental health challenges, especially those who feel unseen or unheard.
Ilse Maria Rodriguez
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
My long-term goal is to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health services to children, adolescents, and underserved communities, particularly immigrant and Latino populations.
Jennifer D. Rodriguez
The University of Texas at San Antonio
I am committed to providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed mental health services that focus on prevention, empowerment, and long-term stability rather than crisis response.
Matthew Schwarz
Angelo State University
I find social work ideals to be positive, collaborative, and hopeful, and have committed myself to helping others improve their mental health.
Summer Tatman
Abilene Christian University
I hope to strengthen communal practices by educating and equipping individuals, groups, and organizations, particularly within faith-based and community settings, to provide safe, informed, and accessible support that impacts mental health.
Victor Valdez
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
My ideal long-term goal would be to facilitate a day center and long-term respite services for those with mental health issues that can serve both urban and rural communities.
Mounika Vennam
The University of Texas at Austin
While direct practice is central to my goals, I also want to contribute to broader change—through program development, advocacy, or policy work— particularly in mental health and housing access.
Aubrey Watley
West Texas A&M University
I am committed to advocating for mental health awareness and improving the well-being of individuals and families in my community.
O’Briyah Williams
University of Houston
I am especially interested in working with adolescents and young adults within BIPOC communities, focusing on trauma, depression, and identity-related stress.
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Announcing the 2025 Ima Hogg Scholarship Recipients
Announcing 22 master’s level social work students at Council on Social Work Education accredited colleges and universities across the state.
Announcing 2024 Ima Hogg Scholarship Recipients
We have awarded 19 $5000 scholarships to master’s level social work students at accredited colleges and universities across Texas.
Announcing 2023 Ima Hogg Scholarship Recipients
We’ve awarded scholarships of $5,000 to each of 22 social work graduate students from colleges and universities across Texas.