During the recent Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend at Daytona International Speedway, AdventHealth awarded full nursing scholarships to 10 high school graduates from Volusia, Flagler, and Lake counties. The scholarships will enable these students to pursue nursing degrees at AdventHealth University.
The Racing to Excellence Nursing Scholarship represents a $350,000 investment by AdventHealth aimed at increasing the number of nurses in a region where demand for caregivers is rising. Recipients will begin their studies at AdventHealth University, which enrolls about 1,900 students annually across its Orlando headquarters and sites in Denver and Tampa. Students will train in local hospitals alongside experienced nurses.
“This goes far beyond covering tuition,” said Michele Goeb-Burkett, chief nursing officer for AdventHealth’s East Florida Division. “It’s about opening doors for students who feel called to care for others and, in turn, ensuring our neighbors have more skilled nurses right here in our community.”
Daytona International Speedway provided the setting for the announcement. Since 2015, AdventHealth has served as the Official Health Care Provider of the Speedway, staffing care centers and first aid stations during major events and offering free medical care to thousands each year.
“Our drivers and crews rely on AdventHealth clinicians every race weekend. It’s only fitting that we celebrate the next generation of caregivers here, where teamwork and trust matter most,” said Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones also attended the event. Jones drives the No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry and encouraged students to pursue their goals with determination.
As part of the ceremony, students received their first lab coats—a symbol of both learning and compassion as they prepare for careers in patient care.
AdventHealth Orlando was founded in 1908 and is located in Orlando, Florida. The hospital has a pediatric ward and serves as a training hospital; its current president is Terry Shaw.
With population growth outpacing national averages locally, AdventHealth hopes that investing in area students will encourage them to remain in the region after graduation.
“This is just the beginning of their journey,” Goeb-Burkett said. “These students will become part of a legacy of care that touches not only patients, but families and entire communities.”
