Texas Tech Student's FASD Scholarship Highlights Need for Greater Disorder Awareness in Social Work

Amelia Hernandez, a junior at Texas Tech University majoring in Social Work, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship. The award, presented by the law firm Bogin, Munns & Munns, recognizes Hernandez's academic dedication and her personal commitment to advocacy, born from her experience growing up with siblings diagnosed with FASD. Her selection highlights a persistent gap in understanding the disorder within support systems and the potential for lived experience to drive meaningful change in social work practice.

For Hernandez, FASD is a family reality, not an abstract concept. As the oldest sibling in a family that adopted three children with the disorder, she witnessed firsthand how behaviors stemming from FASD are frequently misinterpreted by educators, caregivers, and social workers. This misunderstanding can lead to unnecessary interventions or misplaced blame, compounding challenges for affected families. Her goal is to bridge this knowledge gap by becoming a social worker equipped to recognize and appropriately respond to the varied manifestations of FASD.

At Texas Tech, Hernandez actively channels her empathy into service. She serves as a student representative for the Department of Social Work and Anthropology and leads outreach programs through the Volunteer Service Team at the Wesley Foundation, organizing community service in Lubbock. Her academic and extracurricular pursuits are directly aligned with her professional aspirations. After completing her bachelor's degree, she plans to earn a master's in social work and work in hospitals serving rural and underserved populations, aiming to provide crucial resources and hope.

The scholarship is an initiative by Bogin, Munns & Munns, a firm that since 1979 has championed respect and awareness for individuals facing challenges through no fault of their own. The firm's annual FASD scholarship supports students who demonstrate a commitment to advocacy and understanding for affected families. More information about the firm can be found at https://www.boginmunns.com. By honoring students like Hernandez, the program seeks to inspire greater compassion and improved support structures within professional fields that intersect with FASD.

Hernandez's journey underscores a broader implication: the critical need for specialized training and awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders within social work and related helping professions. Her story illustrates how personal experience, when coupled with formal education, can address systemic gaps in understanding. As she advances in her career, her work promises to foster more informed, empathetic interventions for families navigating the complexities of FASD, potentially improving outcomes and reducing stigma for a population that is often overlooked or misunderstood.