Advancing Community Health & Well-Being: 2021 St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship

Applications now open to high school seniors through Jan. 8

Published November 13, 2020

Collaborators, Colleagues, and our Central Texas Community,

As we continue to navigate a global health crisis, it’s critical we remain steadfast in our commitment to advance health equity and improve health and well-being in our community. Doing so requires an ongoing investment in the next generation of health professionals to foster a robust pipeline and ensure our Central Texas neighbors receive the care and support they need.

I’m proud to announce that as of Nov. 10, applications are being accepted for the 2021 St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship. This program awards monetary and comprehensive support to the bright young minds impassioned by the opportunity of tackling health care’s most pressing issues.

As we prepare to welcome a new class of scholars, we are eager to extend the reach of this opportunity to ensure students across the region are aware of this exceptional scholarship. Each year, we’ve seen our scholars pursue a broader and broader range of health professions and our goal is to continue diversifying our program to support the services critical to the Texas health network – from future biomedical and medical engineers, physical therapists, surgeons and health care administrators, to physicians, dentists, nurses, dermatologists and kinesiologists, among others.

The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship is the largest health scholarship program in Texas and focuses on advancing the education of our Central Texas youth by providing them with a holistic support structure including wellness coaching, mental health services and financial assistance. Each scholar is also paired with an accomplished health professional who mentors the scholar throughout their entire higher education journey.

Since the scholarship’s inception in 2005, more than 600 Central Texas students – including 47 new scholars inducted earlier this year – have pursued health care careers in our great state and many have brought their skills and expertise back home to Central Texas. I encourage high school seniors across Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties to consider applying for the program if they have an interest in a health care career and are considering a university or college in the state of Texas. To learn more or to apply, please click here.

Looking forward,
Edward Burger