With the pull of a rope, the curtain dropped, and ACC Round Rock’s health sciences training center officially became the St. David’s Heath Sciences Building. The college recently celebrated the formal dedication – and unveiling of the building’s new sign. The April event followed St. David’s Foundation’s $2,030,000 gift to the ACC Foundation late last year for a scholarship endowment benefiting students enrolled in health sciences programs.

“This dedication is a fitting expression of our gratitude,” said Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO. “St. David’s is a longtime partner of ACC, and we deeply appreciate St. David’s Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting opportunities in healthcare education.”

One of the students now benefiting from St. David’s Foundation’s scholarship donations spoke at the dedication. Amanda Nall is in her third semester of ACC’s Associate Degree Nursing (RN) Program.

“I will always remember the opportunities I received as a nursing student at ACC,” said Nall, who will graduate this December. “I will pay it forward as a nurse, helping others just like St. David’s Foundation helped me.”

Nall and other guests looked on as Dr. Kinslow and St. David’s Foundation Chair David Hughes boarded a scissor lift for the unveiling of the St. David’s Health Sciences Building sign (mounted on an overhang some 20 feet above ground).

“It was gratifying to see the culmination of this entire process,” said Stephanie Dempsey, executive director of the ACC Foundation. “St. David’s Foundation has provided an incredible gift to our students, and this is a wonderful way to say thank you.”

The ACC Foundation used the funds presented in December to create the St. David’s Neal Kocurek ACC Endowed Scholarship. Dr. W. Neal Kocurek served as head of St. David’s and on the Board of Directors of the ACC Foundation before he passed away in 2004.

The dedication ceremony took place in the amphitheater at Round Rock Campus.

“At St. David’s Foundation, we have placed a very high priority on providing educational opportunities for Central Texas students who wish to pursue a healthcare career,” said Earl Maxwell, CEO of St. David’s Foundation. “With the rapid growth in population that our area continues to experience, it is critical that we have well-trained and capable healthcare professionals who wish to remain in our area to work and to raise their families. We are delighted to partner with Austin Community College to make these funds available to ACC students who are striving to attain a healthcare career.”

The gift is expected to provide $60,000 in scholarships for 30 students each year. The annual priority application deadline is June 1; students can find more information and apply at austincc.edu/foundation.

“Each time students enter this building, they will be reminded of the wonderful generosity of St. David’s Foundation,” said Edwina Carrington, chair of the ACC Foundation. “This scholarship program will change the lives of students for many years to come and helps ensure a strong healthcare workforce for Central Texas.”

St. David's Foundation CEO Earl Maxwell gets up close and personal with a high-fidelity mannequin used by nursing students.

Guests at the event had an opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art St. David’s Health Sciences Building, where students get hands-on training experience for a variety of healthcare careers. The St. David’s Neal Kocurek ACC Endowed Scholarship is available to students in the following programs: Nursing (RN and LVN), Medical Laboratory Technology, Surgical Technology, Pharmacy Technician, Radiology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), EMS Professions, Sonography, Phlebotomy Technician, Dental Hygiene, Health and Kinesiology, Health Information Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Allied Health Sciences. ACC is the primary trainer of local healthcare workers.

The dedication of the St. David’s Health Sciences Building is another point of pride for Round Rock Campus.

“ACC and St. David’s both play important roles in the community,” said Raymond Hartfield, vice chair of St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center board and emcee of the dedication. “It’s rewarding to see the partnership between these two organizations come to life on Round Rock Campus.”