St. David's Neal Kocurek Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

The St. David's Neal Kocurek Scholarship stands as the largest healthcare scholarship program in the state of Texas. This prestigious scholarship supports graduating high school seniors from specific counties who aspire to pursue careers in the healthcare sector. Named in honor of W. Neal Kocurek, a respected figure in Central Texas, the scholarship not only provides financial aid but also comprehensive support services to its recipients.

About W. Neal Kocurek

W. Neal Kocurek's impact on the Central Texas region spanned various domains, including health care, public education, higher education, technology, business, economic development, philanthropy, youth sports, transportation, water, social equity, and regional stewardship. He was known for addressing long-range challenges that demanded sustained dedication. His contributions include the St. David’s Partnership, the Convention Center, the West Austin Youth Association, State Highway 130, Envision Central Texas, and the Austin History Center building.

Kocurek earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. During his time at UT, he was a member of Eta Kappa Nu (the engineering honor society), a member of the UT Friar Society, and President of the Silver Spurs. He transitioned the St. David’s Medical Center into the St. David’s Partnership and imbued all six Partnership hospitals with the charitable mission of St. David’s. As a result of his vision and leadership, the St. David’s Healtcare Foundation is now the second largest donor to the Austin community (behind only the Dell Foundation).

After his death, St. David’s Healtcare Foundation established the W. Neal Kocurek Scholarship in his honor. Because Kocurek was a big supporter of public education and loved the State of Texas, the scholarship recipient must attend a public university in the State of Texas. To date, the W. Neal Kocurek Scholarship has helped pay for the education of 217 UT students.

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors from schools in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties who are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. However, children of employees of St. David’s Foundation and St. David’s Health Care are not eligible for this scholarship.

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Eligible Fields of Study

The scholarship supports education in all health professions, encompassing both clinical and non-clinical roles. Examples of eligible fields include:

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)

Financial Aid Details

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. 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. The scholarship committee awards around 55 scholarships each year.

Selection Process

Scholarship applicants will be evaluated on the basis of academic merit as well as financial need.

Additional Benefits for Kocurek Scholars

In addition to financial aid, Kocurek Scholars receive:

Free mental health counseling
Tutoring and academic support
Personalized professional mentorship
A close-knit peer community
Access to Foundation programming throughout their academic journey

Addressing Healthcare Workforce Shortages

Central Texas faces significant shortages across nearly all sectors of the healthcare workforce, despite being one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. These shortages contribute to poor health outcomes and deep inequities in care throughout the region.

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St. David’s Foundation is committed to investing in healthcare workforce solutions that create strong, effective pathways for Central Texans to build financially stable and fulfilling careers. Through the Neal Kocurek Scholarship program, they invest in the next generation of healthcare professionals by providing students from Central Texas with both financial support and comprehensive wraparound services-helping to build a pipeline of healthcare leaders who will strengthen the health and well-being of our entire region.

St. David's Foundation's Commitment

St. David’s Foundation is committed to investing in healthcare workforce solutions that create strong, effective pathways for Central Texans to build financially stable and fulfilling careers. Through the Neal Kocurek Scholarship program, we invest in the next generation of healthcare professionals by providing students from Central Texas with both financial support and comprehensive wraparound services-helping to build a pipeline of healthcare leaders who will strengthen the health and well-being of our entire region.

How to Apply

The St. David’s Foundation Neal Kocurek Scholarship is available to graduating high school seniors pursuing degrees in healthcare studies at Texas colleges and universities. Students who reside in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, or Williamson counties in Texas are welcome to apply. This scholarship is designated for full-time enrollment status only.

The scholarship might not currently be accepting applications. Most scholarship programs only accept applications a few months ahead of their annual deadline.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding this scholarship application, please contact St. David’s Foundation.

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Essay Component

For help writing the essay component of this scholarship application, check out guides on How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay and How to Start a Scholarship Essay (With Examples).

Toast of the Town

The Neal Kocurek Scholarship is funded in part by Toast of the Town, a spring series of philanthropic events hosted in private homes and venues throughout Austin. All proceeds raised through Toast of the Town are matched two-to-one by St. David’s Foundation. Toast of the Town is the annual fundraising drive for the St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund.

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