Addison Dodge, a second-year MSSW student, has been named one of the 22 recipients of the prestigious Ima Hogg Scholarships for 2025. The $5,000 scholarship is dedicated to graduate social work students in Texas who have committed to joining the state’s mental health workforce.
Applicants must be enrolled in a standard two-year social work graduate program and are nominated by the head of their program. The Hogg Foundation awards only one scholarship per university per year, based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in providing mental health services to underserved or underrepresented individuals and their communities in Texas after graduation.
“My ultimate goal is to work with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, walking alongside them and supporting them in building resilience and charting brighter futures for themselves in an increasingly challenging world,” said Dodge.
“Addison demonstrates a deep commitment to providing mental health services to children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, helping them build resilience and navigate pathways toward well-being,” added Joan Asseff, LCSW-S, assistant dean for master’s programs.
The scholarship program was created at the request of founder Miss Ima Hogg in 1956 to address the need for more trained social workers to provide quality mental health services in Texas.
The need for social workers has never been greater. The Texas Social Work Workforce Study, published earlier this year, revealed a significant unmet demand for social workers across Texas. In fact, 97% of Texas counties are designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, with rural regions facing the most severe shortages.