The Hendrick Healthcare Academy is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year, offering high school students across the 24-county Big Country area an opportunity to explore careers in the medical field. The program, part of Hendrick Health's workforce development strategy, provides hands-on experiences and career exposure to students interested in healthcare professions.
This year, Abilene Christian University (ACU) is further enhancing the program by offering $80,000 in scholarships and grants to students who successfully complete the Hendrick Healthcare Academy and choose a healthcare-related major at ACU upon graduation.
Program Overview
The Hendrick Healthcare Academy, launched in 2023, is designed for 9th–12th grade students who want to gain insight into healthcare careers while staying connected to their local communities. Through this program, students will:
Attend a Healthcare Expo at Hendrick Health to explore various medical careers.
Participate in a Job Readiness Expo to develop essential workplace skills.
Take part in Lab Days at regional colleges, including ACU, learning about fields like nursing, surgical technology, pharmacy technology, and respiratory therapy.
Experience job shadowing opportunities at Hendrick Medical Center during their senior year.
Receive a Healthcare Academy t-shirt and earn a letter jacket patch upon completing five program sections.
ACU Scholarship Opportunity
To further encourage students to pursue psychology, social work, or healthcare professions, ACU is partnering with Hendrick Health to offer scholarship incentives.
Eligible students must:
✔ Complete the Hendrick Healthcare Academy program, including attending Lab Days at ACU.
✔ Apply and be accepted to ACU’s residential campus.
✔ Declare a major in an academic program within ACU's College of Health and Behavioral Sciences or major in the health professions track or biomedical science track within the Onstead College of Science and Engineering.
Dr. Dirk Nelson, Dean of ACU’s College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, emphasized the importance of this initiative in retaining healthcare professionals in the area.
“We want to expose students to health- and behavioral-sciences-related disciplines at ACU and encourage them to stay as a licensed provider in Abilene and improve the quality of life for people here,” Nelson said.
Toni Brockway, Director of Workforce Development at Hendrick Health, praised ACU’s commitment to investing in future healthcare workers:
“This generous scholarship makes a significant impact for students in the Big Country pursuing futures in health care."
How to Apply
📅 Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
🔗 Apply here: Application Link
Students who were previously accepted into the Healthcare Academy for 2024-2025 and are not graduating in May 2025 must reapply using this short form: Reapplication Link.
Students will receive an acceptance email within 3-5 business days after applying, with further details on the next steps.