The DCH Health System is pleased to award scholarships for students choosing the healthcare field for their future profession. All scholarships will be awarded to the most qualified applicants meeting the criteria, as judged by the DCH Foundation Scholarship Committee. Students interested in applying for multiple scholarship opportunities need to submit only one completed application packet.
Hillcrest High School Adopt-A-School Partnership Scholarship sponsored by the DCH Health System
Description
DCH Regional Medical Center is proud to offer the Adopt-A-School Partnership College Scholarship to a Hillcrest High School Senior who has demonstrated excellence and leadership while attending Hillcrest High School. All aspects of the candidate’s high school career, including scholastic achievement, leadership roles, work experience, community involvement and financial need will be considered. This scholarship will provide $1,000 towards the cost of the annual full-time tuition, books and supplies at an accredited community college or university.
Eligibility Guidelines
High school senior enrolled at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The DCH Phlebotomy School Scholarship will provide funds for a DCH employee or trainee to be used for tuition at the DCH Phlebotomy School. The scholarship is a one-time award up to $800 to be awarded annually based on eligibility requirements and the availability of scholarship funds. This award will include the registration fee, books, and scrubs, etc.
Eligibility Guidelines
Full-time enrollment in the DCH Phlebotomy School.
Meet all personal qualifications for the DCH Phlebotomy School.
Peggy Simpson Ford Scholarship Sponsored by the family of Peggy Simpson Ford
Description
Peggy Simpson Ford was born in Middleton, TN, one of four children of Mr. & Mrs. Lester Simpson. Following graduation from Middleton High School, she received her degree in education from the University of Tennessee in 1956. She taught sixth grade in Memphis, TN. She and James Henry Ford, Jr., of Walnut, Mississippi, were married in Peggy’s hometown in 1959. Jim graduated from Walnut High School, attended Booneville Mississippi Junior College and received a BA Degree from Memphis State University. He began work as an auditor at Sears, then as an assistant administrator at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. They had four children when they moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1967 for Jim to study at St. Louis University where he received a MA degree in Hospital Administration, followed by completing a residency in Cincinnati, OH. In 1969, they moved to Tuscaloosa where he became Assistant Administrator of Druid City Hospital. In 1976, Jim became Administrator/President and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1996. Their four children are all graduates of The University of Alabama and Jim and Peggy have seven grandchildren. Their pride in the DCH Health System prompted their endowment of the Peggy Simpson Ford Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving and outstanding student who excels in academics, has exemplary good character, and demonstrates financial need.
The scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 to be awarded annually based on eligibility requirements and the availability of scholarship funds.
Eligibility Guidelines
Financial need will be considered but will not be the primary award criterion.
Priority for awarding the scholarship will go first to those pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy, next to those pursing a degree in Respiratory Therapy and lastly to those pursuing a degree in Nursing.
Kay Dodson Dockery Scholarship Sponsored by the family of Kay Dodson Dockery
Description
Kay Dodson Dockery was born in Tuscaloosa, AL; the oldest of two daughters of Mr. & Mrs. Billie Dodson. Following graduation from Brookwood High School in 1975, she was accepted into both the DCH School of Nursing and the DCH School of Radiologic Technology but chose the radiologic technology school because of the lower tuition costs. After graduation from the DCH School of Radiologic Technology, she began her career at DCH as a Radiology Tech. As fate would have it, she met her husband, George Dockery, through a co-worker in the Radiology Department at DCH. Kay enjoyed a rewarding career of many years at DCH as a Radiology Technologist and met many life-long friends while employed there. It is Kay and her family’s hope that this scholarship will help others pursue a career in this very rewarding field by creating this endowment of the Kay Dodson Dockery Scholarship. This scholarship will be awarded annually up to three (3) deserving and outstanding students at the DCH School of Radiologic Technology who excel in academics, demonstrate financial need and are life-long residents of Tuscaloosa County.
The Kay Dodson Dockery Scholarship will provide funds for deserving and outstanding students who are seeking a degree in radiologic technology. The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000 to be awarded annually up to three recipients based on eligibility requirements and the availability of scholarship funds.
Eligibility Guidelines
Declared STEM major
Full-time enrollment at the DCH School of Radiologic Technology
Academic potential for successful completion of the radiologic technology program
Evidence of financial need
Tuscaloosa City/County resident as defined by applicant graduating from a high school physically located in Tuscaloosa County.
DCH Health System Volunteer Auxiliary Scholarship Sponsored by the DCH Volunteer Auxiliary
Description
The DCH Volunteer Auxiliary Scholarship is open to permanent residents of Tuscaloosa County and surrounding counties serviced by the DCH Health System who wish to pursue a health-related career as a full-time student at an accredited college or university in Tuscaloosa County. Consideration will be given to students who pursue a degree in a discipline not offered in Tuscaloosa County i.e. Pharmacy. Ten (10) one-time $1,000 scholastic scholarships will be awarded annually based on the availability of funds, with four of the scholarships restricted to students who meet the following additional criteria:
Eligibility Guidelines
The Lucy Jordan Scholarship Award is awarded to a high school senior who has participated in the DCH Junior Volunteer program with 200 or more donated hours.
Sarajane & Don Pugh Scholarship Award is awarded to a DCH employee going back to school to further their professional education toward a healthcare-related degree. The recipient must also demonstrate personal involvement in community functions. Many DCH employees have families, full-time work schedules, debts, etc. and need assistance to pay for course work and materials to obtain additional education. This award will be an incentive for employees to do so and also encourage retention of valuable employees.
DCH Employee Family Scholarship Award will be awarded to two (2) DCH Health System employees or dependent children of DCH employees. The recipients may live in one of the surrounding counties served by the DCH Health System.
Harry W. & Lee T. King Memorial Scholarship for Critical Care Nursing
Sponsored by the family of Harry W. & Lee T. King
Description
The Harry W. & Lee T. King Memorial Scholarship for Critical Care Nursing will provide funds for a DCH employee or trainee to be used for full-time tuition for the Fall semester at the Capstone College of Nursing at The University of Alabama. The scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 to be awarded annually based on eligibility requirements and the availability of scholarship funds.
Eligibility Guidelines
Full-time enrollment at the junior or senior level in the Capstone College of Nursing. .
Include an emphasis of critical care nursing, although outstanding students with other emphases will be considered.
Employed within the DCH Health System with a desire to complete education for a BSN Degree.
Open to current DCH Health System RNs who wish to pursue an ADN, BSN or MSN. As a child, Ben was curious and loved learning new things. He was a true patriot; he represented his high school as an ambassador to the USSR in his junior year. He was an athlete and participated in all sports in school. Ben also loved to travel and wanted to open his eyes and mind to a world far beyond his home. However, the best part of travel for Ben was coming home to those he loved. He was an avid Alabama football fan and also shared a love for the Baltimore Orioles with his father and brother.
Ben was a young man who was answering the call to be a nurse. Ben loved people and helping others. He was full of patience and compassion, and he had a gift for bringing out the best in others, even during stressful and difficult times. He was a nursing student enrolled at Shelton State Community College. He was paying his own way through school, working toward his dream of earning a BSN degree from the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama.
Although Ben’s parents were very supportive of him and wanted to send him to school, he was determined to accomplish this goal on his own. While in nursing school, he worked tirelessly at DCH Regional Medical Center from November 2000 until September 2005. Unfortunately, Ben was taken far too soon due to a tragic car accident in 2005. After his death, his family created the Benjamin Louis Ladner Capstone College of Nursing Memorial
Scholarship. This annual scholarship has helped many nurses complete their bachelor’s degree in nursing. In 2018, Ben’s family decided to partner with The DCH Foundation and the DCH Health System to expand the annual scholarship into a year-round nursing scholarship program that will help scores of nurses earn their bachelor’s degree.
Ben would be humbled that this program was developed and named for him. He would also be proud that so many nurses will be able to achieve his shared dream – a bachelor’s degree in nursing – and to be able to provide high-quality, compassionate care to those we serve at DCH.
The Hewson Family Foundation
Our mission is to support members of our community in order to give them tools to be successful. From young children entering the education system all the way to parents learning financial literacy, HFF is investing in the futures of children and families.
Our grant recipients span a wide range of organizations, both large and small. The common thread with our grant recipients is that they all are passionate about sharing skills that translate to success. We are proud to continue impacting our communities to open doors for those that need help and support.
Eligibility Guidelines
Open to all eligible DCH Health System employees who are pursuing a nursing career (ADN, BSN, MSN, and DNP/PhD) and have completed their prerequisite courses
Applications are accepted throughout each academic semester and are due by the following deadlines:
April 24, 2026 (Summer 2026 Term)
July 17, 2026 (Fall 2026 Term)
November 6, 2026 (Spring 2027 Term)
Applicants must apply according to the criteria listed in this packet
Award recipients are subject to the guidelines outlined in this packet
