Newsroom > People & Purpose > Scholarships > VSP Vision Announces Two Winners of Premier Edge Student Business Challenge
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – VSP Vision™ has announced both Malia McDowell and Nastasya Liem as the 2024 VSP Premier Edge™ Student Business Challenge winners. McDowell is class of 2026 at the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Optometry and Liem is class of 2026 at UC Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science.
“We congratulate both Nastasya and Malia on their dedication to private practice ownership and well-earned wins,” said VSP Vision Chief Provider and Industry Solutions Officer Michelle Skinner. “At VSP Vision, we are proud to support private practice and the Premier Edge Student Business Challenge is one of many ways we strive to ensure success for the next generation of optometrists. Nastasya and Malia both exemplify the bright young talent shaping the future of this profession.”
In collaboration with the Association of Practice Management Educators (APME) and Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN), the Premier Edge Student Business Challenge was designed for optometry students interested in pursuing private practice ownership. McDowell and Liem were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship, as well as a travel grant to the annual SOLN conference.
“The importance of providing excellent optometric care in rural communities is needed throughout our nation. This experience and award gave me the confidence to remain ambitious for the future and make my business plan a reality,” said Malia McDowell. “Being able to share my business plan with the leading and most successful private practice owners in optometry establishes I can be like them one day.”
“I am honored and beyond blessed to have receive the Premier Edge Business Challenge Scholarship this year. Not only has it allowed me to further my optometric education financially, but it has been a source of hope and motivation towards the future,” said Nastasya Liem. “This business challenge has opened my eyes and has given me a little sneak peek to the future that I hope to achieve one day.”
The Premier Edge Student Business Challenge is one of the many support offerings from Premier Edge Career Support which is designed to help doctors at every stage of their career. To learn more, visit VSPProviderHub.com.
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About VSP Vision
At VSP Vision™, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For nearly 70 years, VSP Vision™ has been the leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses—VSP® Vision Care, Marchon Eyewear, Inc., Visionworks®, Eyefinity®, Eyeconic®, VSP® Optics, and VSP® Ventures—work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for more than 85 million members through a network of more than 41,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Vision™ Eyes of Hope®. To date, more than 4 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we’re reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.