Amelia Hernandez Awarded 2025 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship for Advocacy Work

Bogin, Munns & Munns announced Amelia Hernandez as the recipient of the 2025 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship. A junior at Texas Tech University majoring in Social Work with a minor in Apparel Design and Manufacturing, Hernandez has dedicated her academic and personal life to building awareness and advocacy for individuals and families affected by FASD, inspired by her experience growing up with siblings diagnosed with the disorder.

For Hernandez, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder represents a personal family reality rather than an abstract topic. As the oldest sibling in a family that adopted three children with FASD, she witnessed both daily challenges and profound resilience. Her scholarship essay describes how behaviors associated with FASD are frequently misinterpreted by educators, caregivers, and social workers, sometimes leading to unnecessary interventions or misplaced blame. Hernandez emphasizes that awareness and the willingness to look beyond assumptions can make life-changing differences for affected families.

Situations like this are often misread because too few people truly understand the disorder or its complex presentation, Hernandez explained. That understanding gap motivates her career path toward becoming a social worker who comprehends the various displays of FASD. Her goal involves using her education, empathy, and lived experience to advocate for better training, resources, and compassion within the social work field.

At Texas Tech University, Hernandez channels her empathy into action through multiple roles. She serves as a student representative for the Department of Social Work and Anthropology, helping ensure student voices are heard and valued. Through her leadership with the Volunteer Service Team at the Wesley Foundation, she organizes outreach programs that bring students together in service of the Lubbock community. For Hernandez, helping others represents a calling rather than simply an extracurricular activity.

After earning her bachelor's degree, Hernandez plans to continue her education and pursue a master's in social work, with aspirations to work in hospitals serving rural and underserved populations. She hopes to provide resources and a sense of hope to patients and their families through this work. The annual Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scholarship represents an extension of Bogin, Munns & Munns' belief that fairness and compassion should reach beyond the legal system. Since 1979, the firm has championed respect, dignity, and awareness for those facing challenges through no fault of their own.

By supporting students like Amelia Hernandez, the firm continues its mission to inspire understanding, advocacy, and hope for families affected by FASD. Hernandez's passion for advocacy and empathy for others embodies the spirit of this award, with confidence that she will make lasting differences in her community. The scholarship represents part of supporting her journey toward that goal.