Stephany June Bryan: Bold Spirit of Achievement Scholarship

Call for Applications

The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health is offering ten $5,000 scholarships in honor of Stephany June Bryan to individuals facing personal and financial barriers to achieving their educational or career goals due to the impact of living with a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge.

On this page:

Background

This scholarship honors the legacy of Stephany June Bryan, a beloved former senior program officer and consumer and family liaison at the Hogg Foundation. Stephany worked at the foundation for over 12 years and brought exceptional warmth, insight, and authenticity to her work. Over the course of her career, she dedicated more than two decades to improving services and supports for individuals and families affected by mental health challenges.

A gifted musician and lifelong learner, Stephany enrolled at Southwest Texas State University as a young adult with a scholarship to study music. Despite a deep desire to complete her degree, her life circumstances, including caring for loved ones living with mental health challenges, prevented her from reaching her goal.

By helping others who face similar personal and financial barriers to achieving their educational and career goals, this scholarship pays tribute to Stephany’s lifelong commitment to supporting individuals and families impacted by mental health challenges.

Key Dates

Fluxx Registration Deadline Applicants must create an account before they can apply.

Monday, June 1, 2026,
11:59 pm CT
Scholarship Application Deadline Monday, June 8, 2026, 11:59 pm CT
Award Selection, Winners Notified August 2026

Scholarship Details

Who Can Apply

This scholarship is available to individuals residing in Texas who:

  • Have lived experience of a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge
  • Need financial assistance to continue or to begin an educational, trade, or professional training program to move forward in reaching their personal and/or professional goals

How Applications Are Reviewed

Applications will be selected based on:

  • The applicant’s lived experience with a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge
  • The impact of this experience on the applicant’s ability to pursue education or professional training, perform everyday functions, and/or achieve financial stability
  • The clarity and feasibility of the applicant’s proposed educational, trade, or professional training program
  • The appropriateness and reasonableness of their plan for using the scholarship funds
  • The strength of the required letter of reference (submitted directly to the foundation by the letter writer)

Application Submission

You will need to submit your completed application using the Hogg Foundation’s grant management system, Fluxx. Learn more about how to apply.

Important: Fluxx will log you out of the system after 30 minutes without saving your application automatically. We recommend that you answer the application questions in a separate document, then copy and paste them into Fluxx to prevent the loss of your work.

 

Application Responses

  • Your experience living with a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge
  • The specific circumstances, responsibilities, and/or challenges related to your own or your loved one’s mental health and wellness, and how they have affected your ability to access education or professional development. You may include any circumstances, responsibilities, or challenges that feel relevant to you. Examples include:
    • Caregiving or support responsibilities
    • Costs of therapy, medication, transportation, etc.
    • Having to choose between paying for mental health care or paying for basic needs like rent, food, or utilities
    • Time, energy, or scheduling challenges
  • The educational, trade, or professional training program you are currently enrolled in or plan to enroll in. Please include:
    • Name of the program, institution, and/or organization
    • Length of time needed to complete the program
    • Whether or not you can provide enrollment verification and/or a certificate of completion
  • Your plans for using the $5000 scholarship award
  • The period of time you will be using the award

Letter of Reference

In addition to providing the information above, you will need to arrange for a letter of reference to be written and submitted on your behalf.

The writer of the letter of reference must be an individual who:

  • Has known you for at least one year
  • Is aware of your interest in pursuing an educational, trade, or professional training program to achieve your personal and/or professional goals
  • Can speak to the impacts you have faced due to your own mental health challenges and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge

Examples of people who might write a letter of reference for you include, but are not limited to, a friend, peer supporter, mentor, or colleague.

You will also need to provide the letter writer’s contact information to the Hogg Foundation so that the grants administrator can contact them directly if necessary.

Important: The letter writer, not you, is required to send their letter of reference directly to the Hogg Foundation’s grants administrator.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Is a formal mental health diagnosis required to apply for the Stephany June Bryan Bold Spirit of Achievement Scholarship?

No. A formal diagnosis is not required.This scholarship is available to individuals residing in Texas who:

  • Have lived experience of a mental health challenge and/or caring for a loved one with a mental health challenge
  • Need financial assistance to continue or to begin an educational, trade, or professional training program in order to move forward in reaching their personal and/or professional goals

Selection is made through a competitive review process.

What types of educational, trade, or professional training programs are allowed?

Any educational, trade, or professional program that moves you closer to reaching your personal and/or professional goals is allowed.

Do I have to be enrolled when I apply?

No. You do not need to be enrolled in a program at the time you submit your application. However, you will need to provide enrollment verification and/or a certificate of completion when/if it is awarded.

Eligibility Questions

I applied previously and did not receive an award. May I apply again?

Yes.

I applied previously and did receive an SJB award. May I apply again?

No. Not at this time.

Fiscal Questions

Are there any restrictions on the use of funds?

An evaluation of the appropriateness and reasonableness of your plan for using the scholarship funds will be part of the application review process. Any reasonable use of funds for educational or training opportunities that moves you closer to reaching your personal/professional goals is allowed. Allowable uses for funds include, but are not limited to:

  • Cost of tuition
  • Cost of car repairs (to get to and from school)
  • Cost of computer (for online classes)
What if I can’t enroll without the funds?

Let us know your situation and we will work with you.

Letter of Reference Questions

What should be included in the letter of reference?

The letter of reference should include your name, the letter writer’s name and contact information, the relationship between you and the letter writer, and the length of time of the relationship.

It should also include any information or insight the letter writer can provide about your experiences living with a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge and how these experiences have created barriers to pursuing your personal and/or professional goals.

Who should write the letter of reference?

The letter of reference should be written by someone who:

  • Has known you for at least one year
  • Is aware of your interest in pursuing an educational, trade, or professional training program educational to achieve your personal and/or professional goals
  • Can speak to the impacts you have faced due to your own mental health challenges and/or supporting a loved one with mental health challenges

Budget Questions

How detailed does the budget need to be?

A formal budget is not necessary. A simple list of your planned expenses is sufficient. For example:

  • Gas to and from school: $500
  • Laptop: $2000
  • Community College tuition: $1500
  • Books: $500
  • Home internet service: $500
  • Total: $5000

Additional Questions

Will there be an informational webinar?

No. The Hogg Foundation will not host an informational webinar for this funding opportunity.

If you have additional questions, please send them to the foundation’s grants administrator. Questions will be answered by email within two business days and will be posted on this page if applicable to other applicants.

Definitions

Consumer and Family Liaison: Consumer and family liaisons at the Hogg Foundation ensure that the voices of mental health consumers and family members are included and considered in every aspect of the foundation’s work.

Letter of Reference: For the purposes of this application, a letter of reference provides information and insight about the applicant and their experiences living with a mental health challenge and/or supporting a loved one with a mental health challenge, and how these experiences have created barriers to pursuing their personal and/or professional goals.

Mental Health Challenges: Challenges that result from diagnosed mental health conditions as well as from experiences related to mental health and well-being, but not necessarily officially diagnosed.

Program Officer: Program officers at the Hogg Foundation review and monitor foundation grant proposals; develop and participate in community and statewide events; foster community and grantee partner relations; and help maintain an efficient and impactful grantmaking process.