The HCA Healthcare Foundation awards nearly 800 scholarships

At HCA Healthcare, we take care of others while being there for each other. We’re proud to invest in areas that impact our colleagues’ personal lives, like the HCA Healthcare Scholars Program. Read on to learn more… 

Nearly 800 students received higher education scholarships totaling $2.9 million through the HCA Healthcare Scholars Program for the 2019-20 academic year.

The HCA Healthcare Scholars Program, established and funded by our philanthropic arm, The HCA Healthcare Foundation, awards scholarships of up to $5,000 for higher education expenses to dependent children of eligible HCA Healthcare colleagues. Awards are merit-based, with the amount of the award determined by financial need.

Who received scholarships?

• 14% are first-generation college students
• 94% are seeking bachelor’s degrees
• 31% are children of nurses
• Representing 16 states with HCA Healthcare facilities
• Top majors: Nursing, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Psychology and Biochemistry

“I was surprised, honored, and excited to be chosen to receive the HCA Healthcare scholarship,” said Ian Petersen. “It means so much that the company my mother works for chose to support me, as well.”

“I am proud that HCA Healthcare dedicates resources to colleagues in the form of leadership development and tuition reimbursement. I am humbled that HCA Healthcare invests in my growth as a leader, but to see them invest in the future of my child is overwhelming. This is a true demonstration of ‘caring like family’. We are forever grateful. Thank you HCA Healthcare!” – Sarah Petersen, ethics and compliance officer at affiliate TriStar Summit Medical Center (pictured with her son, Ian Peterson)

Scholarship recipients also have access to tools designed to help them achieve academic success, including a financial literacy app and online coaching with an HCA Healthcare volunteer coach.

“I was totally blown away to receive notice that I was awarded the HCA Healthcare Scholarship,” said recipient Jacob O’Quinn. “My mother, who is employed at Orange Park Medical Center, is so proud of me! This is really going to help with college expenses and allow me to focus on my engineering studies. I am extremely appreciative of this scholarship and will do my very best to represent HCA Healthcare as a HCA Healthcare Scholar. Thank you!”

“I am grateful that the company I work for has made education not only for its employees, but for their employees’ children as well, an absolute priority as demonstrated through such programs as tuition reimbursement and scholarships like this. Thanks HCA Healthcare!” – Michelle O’Quinn, NICU charge nurse at affiliate Orange Park Medical Center (pictured with her son, Jacob O’Quinn)

Several recipients plan to use their scholarship to further their own goal of serving in healthcare.

“I am so grateful to have received this scholarship,” said recipient Abby Whitehead. “Healthcare and advocacy have both been very impactful in my life, and I cannot wait to follow in my mom’s footsteps and begin a career as a nurse. This scholarship will help me complete my BSN. Thank you to all who have been involved!”

Recipient Abby Whitehead (pictured with her mother, Elizabeth Whitehead, a nursing supervisor at affiliate St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, Texas)

HCA Healthcare colleagues, is your high school senior or undergraduate student looking for a scholarship?

The next application cycle opens on January 3, 2020. Apply at https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/hcahealthcare/.