Scholarships

Sociology Scholarships

The Department of Sociology Scholarship
Award $1,000
The Department of Sociology Scholarship was established in 1989 by the Department of Sociology.

Professor Ramsey M. Woods Sociology Endowed Scholarship
Undergraduate Award $2,500
Graduate Award $5,000
The Professor Ramsey M. Woods Sociology Endowed Scholarship was established by the Department of Sociology with an estate gift from Pauline Rea Woods in memory of her father, Ramsey M. Woods. Professor Woods was the first to teach Sociology at Sam Houston State University. He taught from 1910 to 1940, he held the titles of Professor of Rural Education and Sociology and Professor of Sociology of Economics. The Woods Building, built in his honor, was the original location of the Sociology Department. It is the Donor’s intent for the endowment to provide one or more annual undergraduate scholarship awards at a minimum of $500 and one or more graduate scholarship awards at a minimum of $2,500 each to be announced at the onset of every fall and spring semester and disbursed during the same corresponding semester. Scholarship awards shall not exceed 80% of the earnings of the endowment. This scholarship was established to assist with education expenses.

Ruth A. DeBlanc Endowed Scholarship
Award $1,000
The Ruth A. DeBlanc Scholarship was established by Michael D. Bakewell of The Woodlands, Texas in memory of his aunt Ruth A. DeBlanc, who served her entire career in social services. Ruth A. DeBlanc’s career as a case worker for the State of Louisiana provided vital services to thousands of people in need of assistance. She was a college educated woman with a long and rewarding career in a time when such things for women were a bit rare. She was very close with her nephew, the donor of this scholarship, and would often go on adventures together. It was on those outings when, unbeknownst to Michael, his aunt Ruth taught him about life and !he joy of helping people.
Mike is a retired electric power generation executive with 34 years of business and leadership experience. He is recognized as an expert in strategic planning, implementation of organizational change initiatives, major capital construction projects, disaster management, labor relations and union negotiations. He has held numerous positions within Entergy Corporation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. After this, he attended Sam Houston State in the fall of 2002 and earned his Master of Arts in Sociology in 2006. Mike began giving back to Sam Houston State in 2003 while a student in sociology at SHSU when he saw the need for financial support among his classmates. He anonymously started !he Ruth De Blanc Scholarship. In 2012 he decided to endow the scholarship so that it would assist students in perpetuity.

Walter and Minnie Bennett Endowed Scholarship
Award $1,500
This Walter and Minnie Bennett Endowed Scholarship is established by Walter H. and Cynthia A. Bennett of Huntsville, Texas in memory of their parents, Walter Hugh Bennett, Sr. and Minnie Margaret Bennett. Walter Hugh Bennett was born February 26, 1938, in Beaumont, Texas. He received his B.S. in Sociology at SHSU in 1961 with a minor in Geography, and his M.A. in Sociology in 1962 with minors in Geography and Economics. Dr. Bennett received his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University in 1970. Walter Bennett began his teaching career at SHSU as an instructor in the Sociology Department in 1962 and would later become the Chair of the Department from 1974 to 1994. He is known for his commitment to teaching, his dedication to students and his selfless service to the department, university, Texas Department of Criminal Justice educational programs and the Huntsville community. Minnie Margaret Bennett was born February 4, 1942, in Beaumont, Texas. She received her B.A. in Elementary Education from SHSU in 1962. While attending Sam Houston State University she met and married Walter H. Bennett, Sr. Minnie taught public school for 35 years and was recognized as an Outstanding Teacher in 1997. Minnie’s personal and professional life exemplified the importance of community and family core cultural values in the intellectual and social development of individuals. The Walter and Minnie Bennett Scholarship honors Walter and Minnie Bennett’s lifelong contributions to education, family, and community.

Scholarships

The Scholarship Team in the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office coordinates and administers Sam Houston State University scholarship programs for all student classification levels. SHSU utilizes a streamlined application, Scholarships4Kats. This application dramatically simplifies the process for students by importing key information from their student data record and allowing them to be automatically considered for all relevant scholarships. A student has to be accepted to Sam Houston State University to apply for scholarships.

View breakdown of cost on the Cashier's website.