Scholarships
The School of Social Work has several scholarships for social work students that are awarded on the basis of the candidate's academic performance and other specific criteria. Usually, applications for these scholarships are distributed to the current student body each Spring semester. A Scholarship Committee from the School reviews applications based on established criteria and makes the final decision about scholarship awards.
Important information:
- Submissions are due February 2, 2024 at 5:00pm PST via socialworkmailbox@sjsu.edu.
- Awards will be given out at the end of the year Community Connections Ceremony in May.
- Students must attend the in person end of the year Celebration of Community Connections at the end of Spring semester in order to receive the award. If you are an Online/Hybrid MSW student, please email the field office.
- If you are chosen as an award recipient and receive a monetary award, it must be reported to the SJSU Financial Aid office as it may impact your Final Financial Aid Award. Please consult with the SJSU Financial Aid office prior to submitting your application in order to ensure that your Financial Aid package is not impacted. SJSU Financial Aid: https://www.sjsu.edu/faso/about/contact-us.php
- Some Scholarships also require you to complete your FAFSA. Please read directions and requirements carefully as your application must be fully completed in order to be considered for the scholarship and/or award.
For information about financial aid and other scholarships available through the University, it is recommended that the candidate visit the SJSU Financial Aid website or call 408-283-7500. Applicants to the Social Work program are encouraged to explore outside funding sources as well given that the scholarships listed here are for current students.
*Funding amounts for all the scholarships listed below vary each year.
Available Scholarships
The scholarships below are offered to our BASW or MSW students. All applications are due Friday, February 2nd, 2024 at 5pm Pacific Standard Time by email. Late Applications or Nominations will not be accepted. Please submit all applications to the Social Work Field Education office at: socialworkfieldeducation@sjsu.edu.
Jannette Alexander Foundation Scholarship
The Jannette Alexander Foundation for Clinical Social Work Education is a subsidiary non-profit education foundation of the California Society for Clinical Social Work. Each year the Jannette Alexander Foundation scholarship fund awards scholarships to graduating master’s level social work students who demonstrate excellence in clinical studies and practice. Applicants must attend a California accredited graduate social work program. Recipients receive $1,000 and a free one year membership to the California Society for Clinical Social Work.
Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2025. Questions can be directed to Donna Dietz, CSCSW Administrator at cascsw1969@gmail.com.
Eligibility: To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a California-accredited graduate social work program.
Award amount: $1,000.00 (as of December 2024)
Applications can be completed on the website: https://clinicalsocialworksociety.org/jaf/application/.
The Alicia Nájera Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was created by the family in memory of Alicia Nájera, an alumna of our MSW Program at SJSU and a long-time social worker and community leader. Preference is given to first-generation students from under-represented populations and applicants who work and reside in Santa Cruz County.
Eligibility: San José State University MSW full-time student who has demonstrated a commitment to working with Latina/o/x populations. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong interest in working with public or voluntary nonprofit agencies by providing mental health services to underserved Northern California/Bay Area communities.
Award amount: $2,000.00 (as of December 2023)
2024 Alicia Najera Scholarship.docx
The Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship
The School of Social Work has created the Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship with the support of her colleagues at Gardner Family Care Corporation (Centro de Bienestar), the School of Social Work faculty and staff and her friends. Her parents, Jean Westerman Gregg and Dr. Robert Gregg made SJSU a substantial gift needed to establish a scholarship. Debbie was a social worker whose contribution included working as a psychotherapist with economically marginalized populations of color, developing political consciousness and helping her colleagues meet the requirements for obtaining their License in Clinical Social Work. She was also very active with the women's community, gay and lesbian community and the Native American community of the Bay Area. Debbie's spiritual practices, which were based on indigenous traditions, led her to live a life based on the principle of compassion for all living beings and respect for Nature.
Eligibility: San José State University MSW student who delivers social services to disenfranchised individuals, families and/or children at their respective internship agency where an internship is being completed (student’s employment site does not qualify).
Amount: Up to $2,000.00 (as of December 2023)
2024 Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship.docx
The Dorothy A. Miller Scholarship
The School of Social Work has created the Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship with the support of her colleagues at Gardner Family Care Corporation (Centro de Bienestar), the School of Social Work faculty and staff and her friends. Her parents, Jean Westerman Gregg and Dr. Robert Gregg made SJSU a substantial gift needed to establish a scholarship. Debbie was a social worker whose contribution included working as a psychotherapist with economically marginalized populations of color, developing political consciousness and helping her colleagues meet the requirements for obtaining their License in Clinical Social Work. She was also very active with the women's community, gay and lesbian community and the Native American community of the Bay Area. Debbie's spiritual practices, which were based on indigenous traditions, led her to live a life based on the principle of compassion for all living beings and respect for Nature.
Eligibility: San José State University Graduating Class of 2024 MSW Student. Demonstration of academic performance (minimum 3.0 GPA in the Social Work Graduate Program). Demonstration of outstanding leadership qualities and a contribution to the knowledge base of social work practice.
Amount: Up to $1,500.00 (As of December 2023)
2024 Dorothy Miller Scholarship.docx
The Helen S. Hansen Gerontology Scholarship
Helen Hansen was recognized for her professional contributions to social work with the elderly. It is the intent of this scholarship to reward a San José State University MSW student who displays outstanding professional qualities in delivering social services to the elderly. Eligibility: San José State University MSW StudentDemonstration of academic performance (Minimum 3.0 GPA in the Masters of Social Work program). Demonstration of professional leadership delivering social services as an intern currently working with the elderly. Demonstration of a future commitment to becoming a geriatric social worker upon graduation.
Amount: Up to $500.00 (As of December 2023)
2024 Helen S. Hansen Scholarship.docx
The Helen Walsh Soderstrom Scholarship
This scholarship was established by Antoinette Broyles and her daughter Lucia Broyles-Gilbertson to honor their lifelong friend and SJSU alumna, Helen Walsh Solderstrom.Helen Walsh Soderstrom was a San José State University alumna. She dedicated her life to helping others through her work as founder and employee of the San José family service. It is the intent of this scholarship to support continuing MSW students (students not in their final year of the MSW program) with social work career goals reflecting those of Mrs. Walsh Soderstrom of working in a public institution and/or with families and children.
Eligibility: San José State University MSW student continuing in the program for at least one more year (i.e., a student not in her/his final year: graduating in 2024), who delivers or intends to deliver services in a public institution and/or to families and children.(Minimum 3.0 GPA in the Masters of Social Work program).
Amount: Up to $450.00 (As of December 2023)
2024 Helen Walsh Soderstrom Scholarship.docx
The Stanley “Stan” Lee Memorial Scholarship
San José State University’s School of Social Work created the Stanley Lee Memorial Scholarship with the support of his family, his partner and her family and the Social Work Program faculty, and staff. Stan was a child of an immigrant Chinese family who grew up in the Mission District in San Francisco. He received an MSW from San Francisco State University and an MBA from University of Southern California (USC). After graduating USC, Stan began his 32-year career at the Santa Clara County Department of Social Services starting in 1986 and served in a wide variety of positions until his retirement in 2017. His greatest joy working at the Department was teaching and mentoring new social workers. He felt passionately about developing the next diverse generation of social workers. He taught and served on multiple committees at the School of Social Work. It is the intent of this scholarship to support an MSW student whose social work career goals reflect those of Stanley Lee, of working in social work in a County Social Service agency specializing in working with children and families.
Eligibility: San José State University MSW student specializing in child welfare, and currently working or interning at a County Social Service Agency in Family and Children’s Services. This includes county work study and Title IV-E students.
Amount: Up to $2,500.00 (As of December 2023)
2024 Stanley Lee Memorial Scholarship.docx
Available Awards
BASW Field Agency of the Year Award
Eligibility: Bestowed on an agency that trains BASW students and best exemplifies the qualities of a professional social work agency.
Amount: Not Applicable
2024 BASW Field Agency of the Year (final).docx
MSW Field Agency of the Year Award
Eligibility: Bestowed on the agency that is recognized for outstanding training of MSW students and best exemplifies the qualities of a professional social work agency. Nominations may be made by students, Faculty Field Liaisons, and Field Education staff.
Amount: Not Applicable
2024 MSW Field Agency of the Year.docx
Shaaron Gilson BASW Field Instructor of the Year Award
Eligibility: Given to the individual who best exemplifies the qualities of a professional social worker. Nominations can be accepted from BASW students and/or Faculty Field Liaisons.
Amount: Not Applicable
2024 Shaaron Gilson BASW Field Instructor of the Year.docx
Shaaron Gilson MSW Field Instructor of the Year Award
Eligibility: Given to the individual who best exemplifies the qualities of a professional social worker. Nominations can be made by students and/or Faculty Field Liaisons.
Amount: Not Applicable
