46 Central Texas Students Awarded St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship, Advancing the Future of Healthcare

St. David’s Foundation is proud to announce that 46 high school students from Central Texas have been awarded the 2026 St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship. This cohort of scholars was selected based on strength in academic achievement and financial need. Of this year’s class of 46 scholars, nearly half are first-generation college students.

As the largest health care scholarship program in Texas, the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program offers graduating high school seniors in Central Texas a transformative scholarship to advance their healthcare education. To date, more than 900 students from Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties have received the award. Scholars are selected based on academic merit, personal determination, and financial need.  

The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program provides financial and emotional support for students pursuing higher education in healthcare, including professional mentorship and a close-knit community of peers. The program creates pathways for students to pursue healthcare careers in an in-demand field with long-term financial security, a key driver of positive health outcomes. While empowering these deserving students, the scholarship program also strengthens the health and wellness of our entire community by cultivating a workforce of qualified, compassionate, and diverse healthcare professionals.  

The Neal Kocurek Scholarship announcement comes at a time when Texas high school students are applying for FAFSA at a record pace. As of April, more than 60% of high school seniors in Texas have applied for financial aid through the government portal. Meanwhile, roles within the healthcare industry have become some of the country’s most in-demand and secure careers. As demand for healthcare increases, meeting the demand for healthcare professionals is a priority.

St. David’s Foundation is committed to fostering a thriving, diverse and community-rooted healthcare workforce to meet the demands of the growing healthcare needs in our community. A strong healthcare workforce pipeline not only supports better health outcomes but also creates pathways to stable employment and offers economic stability. The growth in the field offers upward mobility and stability for students.

“A stronger healthcare ecosystem starts with opportunity. For more than 20 years, we have invested over $28 million to supporting the future of Central Texas students through the St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program,” said Edward Burger, President & CEO, St. David’s Foundation. “We’re not only expanding access to stable healthcare careers, but we’re also building the workforce our community needs to thrive.”

Each year, the Alfred A. King Chairman’s Award is presented to a scholar who best exemplifies outstanding educational values, strong community engagement and a deep commitment to civic stewardship. Chosen by the scholarship committee, this honor recognizes not only academic excellence but also the recipient’s dedication to making a positive impact. We are thrilled to announce Nallely Guerrero Tovar as this year’s Alfred A. King Chairman Award recipient.

For Guerrero Tovar, life is defined by a profound before and after. Growing up, she enjoyed a typical childhood, dreaming of one day owning an ice cream stand, becoming a lawyer or serving as a police officer. Determined to be the first in her family to attend college, she enrolled at Austin Community College while still in high school. However, her world changed in 2024 when a devastating car accident left her in a month-long coma and hospitalized for several months after regaining consciousness. Doctors warned she might never walk again. Yet, one of her steps in recovery was placing a call to her college and career counselor, Mr. O’Donnell, to express her unwavering resolve to continue her education.

“The fact that she has overcome so much adversity and still achieved her goals, with a smile on her face, is truly remarkable. Her refusal to be defined by her accident is inspiring. There is no one like her,” said Chris O’Donnell, college and career counselor at LBJ Early College High School.

This May, Guerrero Tovar will graduate from LBJ Early College High School, earning her associate’s degree from ACC. In the fall, she will attend St. Edward’s University to pursue her dream of becoming a physical therapist, a calling that stems directly from her own journey. Through physical therapy and sheer determination, she overcame unimaginable obstacles. Today, she is not only walking but nearly running. Inspired by her recovery, Guerrero Tovar hopes to help others reclaim their mobility and confidence through physical therapy.

“This scholarship means so much to my family and me. I am incredibly grateful to St. David’s Foundation for recognizing my story and allowing me to focus fully on my education. I couldn’t have done this without the doctors and nurses who literally saved my life – I wouldn’t be here today without them,” Guerrero Tovar shared. “I will never forget the two physical therapists who helped me regain my mobility. They inspired me to pursue this path. I want to help everyone, especially children and young people like me.”

Many of the scholarship recipients are first-generation college students. The scholarship program goes beyond solely providing financial support and aims to remove further barriers by matching our students with healthcare professionals who serve as mentors throughout the four-year program. 

In the fall of 2026, the incoming cohort will be enrolled in the Texas College 529 Savings Plan, providing a new way of distributing funds and providing students with the flexibility to use their awards beyond tuition and books. By leveraging 529 savings accounts, scholars can access every scholarship dollar for qualified educational expenses.

To stay connected on updates from the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Program or to learn more, please visit here.

From Bastrop County:

Alberto Vera
Cedar Creek High School

Jolette Hernandez      
Cedar Creek High School

Marlem Gaytan          
Cedar Creek High School

Melanie Faldyn           
Bastrop High School

Perla Nieto Camacho 
Elgin High School

Rubi Jaimes Bustos     
Cedar Creek High School

Sarah Nix        
Cedar Creek High School

From Caldwell County:

Natalie Reyes  
Luling High School

From Hays County:

Aubree Mancha         
Moe & Gene Johnson High School

Emily Buenrostro        
Moe & Gene Johnson High School

Ethan Reyes-Monroy  
Lehman High School

Kara Wells      
Dripping Springs High School

Stella Becirovic           
Lehman High School

From Williamson County:

Adityasinh Parmar      
McNeil High School

Anna Browning          
Harmony Science Academy North Austin

Elizabeth Moges         
Cedar Ridge High School

Jack Pitchford 
Liberty Hill High School

Minh-Tuyet Tran        
Cedar Park High School

Miriam Sosa   
Cedar Ridge High School

Morgan Reynolds       
Vista Ridge High School

Natalie Le       
Cedar Park High School

Perween Ahmad        
Cedar Ridge High School

Yushuyan Zhang         
McNeil High School