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Dr. Tanya Smith Brice Rising Star Scholarship

The Abilene Housing Authority (AHA) Dr. Tanya Smith Brice Rising Star Scholarship was created for AHA High School Seniors who have a desire to further their education but lack the adequate financial means to accomplish this goal, and to inspire these individuals to find meaningful careers, earn a living wage, and progress toward becoming economically self-sufficient.

The Scholarship funds may only be used to cover unmet student needs directly related to tuition, student fees, books, school supplies or other pre-approved direct educational expenses on a case-by-case basis. 

Apply for the Dr. Tanya Smith Brice Rising Star Scholarship on the Community Foundation of Abilene's Scholarship Portal: https://www.cfabilene.org/scholarships/how-to-apply

Submission Deadline: March 1, 2026

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must demonstrate financial need  
  • Must attend an accredited school or program; non-accredited programs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis
  • Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
  • Must be a current high school senior 
  • Must be a resident or participant of Abilene Housing Authority
  • Must have a 2.5 GPA or above
  • Cannot have received a scholarship from Abilene Housing Authority within the last three years

Scholarship Requirements

  1. Proof of acceptance - if already accepted into a school or program 
  2. Transcript - high school or most recent coursework undertaken
  3. Personal essay - written in your own words and 300-500 words in length. Describe:
    1. Your educational goals
    2. Intended major or area of concentration
    3. Educational institution you are attending or plan to attend
    4. How receiving the Scholarship will benefit you now and in the future
    5. Any other information about you and your academic goals or aspirations that you would like to be considered
  4. Letter of recommendation - from a professional reference, such as a professor, teacher, employer, community leader, or coach. 

Application Instructions

  1. Apply at the Community Foundation of Abilene's scholarship portal: https://www.cfabilene.org/scholarships/how-to-apply
  2. Complete all required application sections.
  3. Save a copy of your application responses and receipt of submission.
  4. Email Meghan Monson at meghan.monson@abileneha.org if you have any questions or need technical assistance.

Award Management

  • All unused scholarship funds must be returned to Abilene Housing Authority.
  • Awardees must inform AHA of any change in school, enrollment status, or any special billing requirements.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

The Dr. Tanya Smith Brice Rising Star Scholarship is committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity for all applicants and participants under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We do not discriminate on the basis of disability in our programs, services, or employment.

To ensure full participation, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you require accommodations, please contact Meghan Monson at meghan.monson@abileneha.org before the application deadline.

Headshot of Dr. Tanya Smith Brice

Dr. Tanya Smith Brice is the President and Senior Consultant of Albert Lehmon and Associates, LLC where she provides consultation to community organizations, religious institutions, and educational institutions on organizational effectiveness, programmatic accreditation, and executive leadership development. She is the former Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington. Prior to moving to Washington State, she served as Vice President of Education at the Council on Social Work Education in Alexandria, VA. Dr. Smith Brice has also served as Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Bowie State University in Bowie, MD and Dean of the School of (Education) Health and Human Services at Benedict College in Columbia, SC. She has served on the faculties of the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC), Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX), and Baylor University (Waco, TX). 

Dr. Smith Brice's research centers on addressing issues of structural violence specifically as it relates to the impact of those structures on African American people. Her publications focus on the development of the social welfare system by African American women for African American children and documents structural barriers to African American families.

Dr. Smith Brice has taught and lectured all over the USA, as well as in the countries of Ghana, Sweden, Uganda, Colombia, and the Republic of Moldova. A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Dr. Smith Brice earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MSW from the University of South Carolina, and a BSW from South Carolina State University.

Dr. Smith Brice has been recognized as the 2021 Distinguished Alumni of the Year, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2022, she was inducted as a Distinguished Scholar Fellow into the National Academies of Practice in Social Work.