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.

Students may be considered for this scholarship if:

  • They are enrolled in a standard two-year Social Work graduate program, and they:
  • Have completed or are currently completing their first year of graduate studies in social work; and
  • Will be entering their second year of their program in either the upcoming summer or fall; OR
  • They are recently admitted to a one-year advanced standing program beginning this upcoming fall.

    • 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 (or summer, prior to the fall) semester. Students who have been admitted to a one-year advanced standing program beginning in the fall (at the start of their academic program) 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