Advocate Health has announced it will award $200,000 in scholarships to students pursuing education in health care and STEM-related fields, helping support the next generation of professionals in those industries.

The program will provide 40 scholarships worth $5,000 each to students living in Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Georgia, which make up Advocate Health’s service area.

Half of the awards will be available to community members and dependents of Advocate Health teammates, while the remaining scholarships are designated for eligible Advocate Health employees.

The scholarships are open to students studying in a wide range of fields including health care, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, human resources, information technology, and finance.

Michelle Smith, Vice President of Workforce Development and Career Innovation for Advocate Health, said investing in education is key to strengthening the future of health care.

Smith said the scholarships help remove financial barriers for students who are passionate about serving their communities and pursuing careers in health care and related industries.

To qualify, applicants must be enrolled at least part-time in a health-related field, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 for high school students or 2.75 for college students, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and live in one of the four states served by Advocate Health.

Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate financial need, have participated in Advocate Health workforce development programs, or are employees, dependents of employees, or community members connected to the health system.

The deadline to apply is March 31.

More information and the online application are available at aah.awardspring.com