Eligible Criteria

To be eligible for this award, you must meet the following criteria:

Dependent Child Requirement

• You must be a dependent child, age 26 or under, of a full-time or part-time U.S. employee of an HCA Healthcare, Inc. affiliate.
• Your qualifying employee must have a minimum of 90 days of employment with the company as of February 15, 2025.*
  • A “dependent child” is defined as a biological child, stepchild or legally adopted child living in the employee’s household or primarily supported by the employee.
  • Children of employees with the title of Corporate Senior Vice President and above are ineligible.

Academic Status

• You must be one of the following:
  • A high school senior, graduating no later than June 30, 2025.
  • A high school graduate who has not yet enrolled in undergraduate study.
  • A current undergraduate student.

Enrollment Plan

• You must plan to enroll full-time (typically 12 credit hours) in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited, not-for-profit two- or four-year college, university, or vocational-technical school in the United States.
• You must remain enrolled for the entire 2025-26 academic year.

* Per IRS guidelines, previous scholarship recipients are eligible to apply even though their parent or guardian may no longer be employed by an HCA Healthcare affiliate.

** “Not-for-profit” status will be confirmed using the National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator tool. In order to be eligible to receive funds from the Patricia Frist Memorial Scholarship, College Navigator must display an Institution Type of ‘Not-for-Profit’ or ‘Public’. No exceptions will be made.

Scholarships
If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Awards are for undergraduate study only. Children of employed physicians may require additional review.

Selection of Recipients
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, unusual personal or family circumstances, and work experience.

Preference will be given to first-generation college students* and students pursuing STEM majors.

Once scholarship recipients are selected, financial data is reviewed to determine the amount of each award, ranging from $2,000 to $6,000. Recipients whose parents choose not to supply the requested financial information or do not demonstrate financial need, as calculated by ISTS, will be eligible to receive an award of $2,000.

Selection of recipients is made by ISTS. In no instance does any officer or employee of the HCA Healthcare Foundation or HCA Healthcare play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

*A first-generation college student does not have a parent and/or guardian with a completed bachelor’s degree or higher.

Notification
Applicants will be notified by e-mail using the e-mail address submitted on the application of their results in May. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients.

Payment of Scholarships
ISTS processes scholarship funds on behalf of the HCA Healthcare Foundation. Funds will be issued in one installment in early August via ACH (electronic) payment to the recipient’s institution or via check made payable to the institution and mailed to the recipient’s permanent home address.

Need Assistance or Have Questions?

Review the Program FAQ to learn more about the program and get answers to commonly asked questions.

ISTS Program Support is also available Monday through Friday 7am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm Central Time.

Email: ContactUs@applyISTS.com
Toll-Free Phone: (855) 670-ISTS (4787)
Web: Online Contact Form