(a) To be eligible to nominate a student for recognition,
a sponsoring organization or entity must:
(1) be a local hospital or hospital auxiliary, rural
health clinic, foundation, civic organization, city council, chamber
of commerce, commissioners courts, or any combination of such organizations;
(2) be located in a rural community, as defined in §487.101
of the Texas Government Code, in Texas;
(3) agree to provide 50% of the student's cost of attendance,
if the nominee is selected to receive a forgivable loan; and
(4) be in good standing with the department.
(b) A sponsoring organization may solicit applications
from students interested in health care careers at a local high school
or college.
(c) Rural communities shall select students for nomination
and sponsorship as outstanding rural scholars based on the following
criteria:
(1) the student's academic performance;
(2) the results of one or more sponsor interviews with
the student;
(3) a typed essay of no more than 500 words discussing
the following:
(A) a description of the health care profession the
student is pursuing;
(B) the student's reasons for entering the chosen health
care profession; and
(C) the student's reasons for wanting to provide health
care to rural Texans;
(4) a minimum of three letters of recommendation from
professional staff of the student's high school or college, or from
employers or community leaders who have known the student for at least
one year; and
(5) the community's needs.
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