At St. David’s Foundation, we acknowledge that health and wellness is directly connected to financial security. One way we develop impactful pathways toward that security is by supporting students as they pursue sustainable and in-demand healthcare careers. Each year, we offer more than 40 high school seniors from our Central Texas region the financial assistance and moral support they require to pursue higher education and their professional development.
Our St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholars program provides students with a holistic support structure that includes a professional mentor working in the field and wraparound services such as tutoring, counseling, legal assistance, and a community of peers to propel their academic journey. In financial support, each St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholar receives up to $7,500 annually for up to eight years of higher education as they pursue their healthcare-related studies.
We launched this program in 2005 to honor the late Dr. Neal Kocurek (1936-2004), the founding CEO of St. David’s Foundation. This scholarship program captures his belief in the transformative nature of education. Since the scholarship began, more than 800 students have been selected as Neal Kocurek Scholars. Our scholars tell us that our program’s mentorship, mental health resources, and tutoring have been highly impactful in achieving their academic goals. Such resources are particularly helpful to those students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
The mentors in our program provide insights and guidance to our scholars as they navigate their education and enter the workforce. Many of our mentors today were once Neal Kocurek Scholars themselves. Their support is crucial and provides access to real-world experience as our current scholars consider their future professional journeys.
High school seniors in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who plan to attend college in Texas and hope to pursue a career in healthcare are encouraged to apply. Neal Kocurek Scholars are selected based on academic merit as well as financial need.
This year’s scholarship application period is now open, and I personally invite you to share this remarkable opportunity with your networks, friends, family, and any high school students you may know. The scholarship application period will remain open until midnight on January 3, 2025. To learn more and apply, visit the scholarship website here.
Looking toward a healthier tomorrow,
Edward Burger
President and CEO