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Neal Kocurek Scholarship
High school seniors in Central Texas interested in healthcare careers are invited to apply.
Application Now Open
Application Now Open
About the Scholarship
The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship is the largest healthcare scholarship program in the state of Texas. Created in honor of St. David’s Foundation’s late President and CEO, W. Neal Kocurek, Ph.D., this distinguished scholarship program carries on his vision for a more equitable Central Texas.
High school seniors from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who want to pursue careers in healthcare and plan to attend college in Texas are eligible to apply for up to $60,000 in financial aid over the course of their higher education.
Scholarship applicants will be evaluated on the basis of academic merit as well as financial need. If selected for the scholarship, the student will receive up to $7,500 per year for up to four years of undergraduate studies at Texas colleges and universities and up to four years of graduate studies and/or medical school, and up to $4,000 a year at Texas community colleges.
In addition to this funding, Neal Kocurek Scholars have access to a range of emotional and educational supports, including free mental health counseling, tutoring options, professional mentorship, and a close–knit community of peers.
My scholarship gave me phenomenal opportunities. As believers in the ethos and ideals of the American Dream, the sponsors allowed me to be a first-generation college graduate and get my nursing degree.
Meet our Scholars
News
Announcing our 2024 Neal Kocurek Scholarship Recipients
About Dr. Neal Kocurek
Dr. Kocurek was a beloved civic and corporate leader who was passionate about the power of education and possessed a special gift of bringing people together to achieve progress in areas such as health care, public education, social equity, and regional stewardship. Born in Austin, he graduated from Austin High School as salutatorian and earned B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
He served St. David’s Health Care System as President and CEO for six years, overseeing a period of unprecedented growth and transition as St. David’s became one of the largest healthcare systems in Central Texas. Dr. Kocurek was deeply invested in the challenge of providing healthcare for the poor and addressing the root causes of health inequities in Austin. His legacy is still felt far and wide in Central Texas, through this scholarship program, the convention center that is named for him, and countless other projects.
Who's Eligible To Apply?
High school seniors graduating from schools in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare are invited to apply. Children of employees of St. David’s Foundation and St. David’s Health Care are not eligible for this scholarship.
This includes all health professions, clinical and non–clinical, such as: Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Dentistry, Radiation Oncology, Nursing, Health Philanthropy, Optometry, Clinical Laboratory Technology. Psychology or social work applications are accepted if planning to work in a medical environment.
Students must be U.S. citizens and plan to attend college in Texas.
Application Checklist
- Student Aid Report (SAR) generated from the FAFSA
- Unofficial academic transcript from your high school
- Completed application (available November 1, 2024)
Become a Mentor
Become a Mentor
Toast of the Town
Toast of the Town is the annual fundraising drive for the St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund. Our committee of dedicated volunteers have been hosting intimate dinner parties across Austin since 1995 to raise funds for health scholarships.
ACC Endowed Scholarship
The St. David’s Neal Kocurek ACC Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to students enrolled in a Health Sciences program at Austin Community College.
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News
November 07, 2023
