Ima Hogg Scholarships

Texas faces a critical mental health workforce shortage, ranking far below the national average in the number of mental health professionals per 100,000 residents. In 2015, 185 Texas counties out of 254 did not have a single psychiatrist, which left more than three million Texans without access to a psychiatrist. Worse, 40 counties didn’t even have a licensed clinical social worker.

The Ima Hogg Scholarship, established in 1956, is one of the ways the foundation works to positively impact mental health services in Texas. The scholarship program was created at the request of founder Miss Ima Hogg to address the need for more trained social workers to provide quality mental health services in Texas.

Every Texas-based graduate school of social work, accredited or pending accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, is invited to recommend one student to receive an Ima Hogg Scholarship. The foundation awards only one scholarship per university per year. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic achievement and a commitment to providing mental health services after graduation. Accredited Texas graduate schools of social work (and those awaiting accreditation) are invited to recommend one student for the Ima Hogg Scholarship each year.

Eligibility and Application

Nominations: All applicants must be nominated by the head of their program. Student-submitted applications are not accepted. Students must contact their graduate program’s office for more information.

Applicants must:

  • Be pursuing a master’s degree in Social Work (MSW or MSSW) at one of the 21 Texas graduate programs that are accredited or pending accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education.
  • Be recommended for the scholarship by the dean or director of the graduate social work program.
  • Have completed (or are about to complete) their first year of graduate studies in social work and are prepared to enter their second year in the program in the fall semester. (Students who have been admitted to a one-year advanced standing program beginning in the fall also are eligible.)
  • Demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in providing mental health services to underserved or underrepresented individuals and their communities in Texas upon obtaining their master’s degree.
  • Self-identify the need to receive this award. The need or financial hardship should be addressed in the student’s personal statement.

Applications: All applications must be submitted by the recommending university through Fluxx, the foundation’s online grant portal.

Questions: Contact hogg-grants@austin.utexas.edu

Recent Grantees

2022 Recipients

Read more about the 2022 Ima Hogg Scholarship recipients!

2021 Recipients

Gloria Atkinson, Abilene Christian University
Jaclyn Berger, The University of Texas at El Paso
Doraelia Blake, The University of Texas at San Antonio
Samantha Dehner, Texas Christian University
Briana Fowler, Baylor University
Amanda Gage, Texas A&M University-Commerce
Susana Gutierrez, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Elizabeth Huss, Tarleton State University
Marley King, Texas State University
Lisa Lopez, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Jamie Lowe, The University of Texas at Arlington
Lynne McCabe, University of Houston
Deeanna Moore, Angelo State University
Daniel Moreno, The University of Texas at Austin
Shay Palmer, Stephen F. Austin State University
Benjamin Ramirez, West Texas A&M University
Jamie Simmons, Texas Tech University
Andrea Smith, Texas A&M University -Texarkana
Mary Spry, Our Lady of the Lake University
Emily Williams, University of North Texas

Read more about the 2021 Ima Hogg Scholarship recipients!

2020 Recipients

Tina Godino, West Texas A&M University

Kasey Golden, Stephen F. Austin State University

Rachel Gornitz, Abilene Christian University

Carlos Hernandez, Texas A&M University-Commerce

Hannah Jurgens, Texas Christian University

Timothy Lopez, Tarleton State University

Brittney Mestanza, Texas Tech University

Danielle Montoya, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Kamden Ndawula, University of North Texas

Kino Park, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Simon Rios, The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley

Stella Sacks, The University of Texas at Austin

Medina Serdarevic, The University of Texas at Arlington

Alicia Shepherd, Baylor University

Mary Spry, Our Lady of the Lake University

Yuqian Zhao, University of Houston