Create Healthy Awards $155,300 in Healthcare Scholarships to Local Students

June 2026

Create Healthy selected 31 local students to receive healthcare scholarships through its 2026 Student Scholarship Program, representing a $155,300 investment in the future healthcare workforce of the Hill Country.

This year’s recipients include 11 Class of 2026 high school seniors, 18 current college students, and two adult learners pursuing education in healthcare-related fields. The 31 scholarships announced here are in addition to the adult learner scholarship announced in May and the partnership with Scholarship-making organizations across the region, bringing the total Create Healthy investment in health-related scholarships to $455,300 in 2026.

The scholarships support students pursuing higher education in nursing, allied health, behavioral health, public health, and other healthcare professions. Of the 31 scholarships awarded, about half support students pursuing nursing pathways. The nursing scholarships come from dedicated funds from the Frantzen-Rinker, MacQueen, and Holden Endowed Nursing Scholarship Funds.

“Investing in students who want to pursue careers in healthcare is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the long-term health of our communities,” said Jayne Pope, RN, MBA, FACHE, president and CEO of Create Healthy. “These scholarships open doors to opportunity for local students and help them take an important step toward careers that will strengthen care accessibility locally.”

Scholarship recipients were selected based on a letter of recommendation, academic performance, a short-answer written response, and demonstrated financial need.

“Every Create Healthy scholarship recipient represents a student with the talent, commitment, and heart to serve others through healthcare,” said Erin Carter, chair of the Create Healthy Scholarships Council. “We are proud to invest in their education and excited for their future and the impact they will have in their communities.”

Create Healthy’s healthcare scholarships are part of its strategic focus to support health education that fosters health and well-being across Gillespie, Blanco, Llano, and Mason counties, as well as the town of Comfort.

For more information about Create Healthy’s scholarship opportunities, visit CreateHealthy.org/Scholarships.