Adult Learner Scholarship Recipient Reflects Create Healthy’s Investment in Local Healthcare Talent
Create Healthy launched its Adult Learner Scholarship program in 2025, awarding Gillespie County resident and nursing student Jennifer Willard its first scholarship in a ceremony during National Nurses Week in early May. Willard is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner or entering forensic nursing.
Willard currently works in healthcare, beginning her healthcare career in 2019 in an administrative role before moving into direct patient care as a patient care technician and now a nurse extern.
In her scholarship application, Willard expressed that the scholarship would strengthen her path in nursing by helping her focus on the skills, knowledge, and clinical experience needed to reach her goals. She also emphasized that the support would help her excel and make a meaningful impact in her community.
“Scholarships like this are about recognizing potential, encouraging professional and personal development, and helping people in our community pursue education,” said Jayne Pope, president and CEO, Create Healthy. “Jennifer’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when determination and opportunity come together.”
Create Healthy’s Adult Learner Scholarship supports local adults returning to school or continuing their education in a healthcare-related field and is one of several scholarships Create Healthy provides to support learners pursuing healthcare-related education.
For adult learners, the decision to return to school or continue working toward a degree or professional certification often comes with added responsibilities. Many are balancing tuition and other financial pressures, work schedules, and family obligations while trying to advance in their chosen field.
Create Healthy’s Scholarship Program reflects our broader commitment to strengthening the Hill Country healthcare workforce. By supporting students pursuing degrees and certificates in health-related fields, the Scholarship Program helps create pathways for people who want to serve our communities through nursing, medicine, physical therapy, social work, healthcare support services, and other critical roles.
The Adult Learner Scholarship application is always open for eligible students pursuing a degree or certificate in a health-related field. To learn more or apply, visit https://createhealthy.org/scholarships/adult-learners/.
