VSP Vision and Midwestern University College of Optometry Announce 2023 VSP Diversity Admissions Scholarship Winner

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — Today, VSP Vision™ and the Midwestern University College of Optometry congratulate optometry student William Wooley on winning the 2023 VSP Diversity Admissions Scholarship. This $10,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming 1st year optometry student at a Midwestern University College of Optometry campus and aims to support historically marginalized and underrepresented communities. 

Wooley is originally from Anne Arbor, Michigan and a graduate of Michigan State University’s science-based residential college, Lyman Briggs College. He earned a B.S. in cognitive neuroscience prior to pursuing a future career in optometry.

“We’re proud to support first-year optometry students from underrepresented communities through this scholarship and help diversify the future or optometry,” said VSP Vision Chief Diversity Officer, Marvin Davenport. “We congratulate William on this achievement and are excited for him to follow his passion of helping people see.”

“We’re excited to collaborate with VSP Vision to provide scholarships to very deserving and promising students entering the optometric field,” says Chicago College of Optometry Dean, Melissa A. Suckow, O.D., FAAO. “I would like to congratulate William Wooley on being this year’s scholarship recipient, and I wish him the best of luck as he embarks on his journey with us at the Chicago College of Optometry.”

Within the last 10 years, VSP Vision has provided more than $3 million in scholarship support to optometry students. VSP also recently launched a Student Loan Repayment Program for optometry students, recent graduates, and practicing optometrists burdened with student debt.  To learn more, visit https://www.vspproviderhub.com/scholarships.html. 

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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 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 3.8 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.  

Midwestern University is a private, not-for-profit graduate and postgraduate educational institution specializing in the health sciences with 12 colleges located on two campuses. The Illinois campus, located on a 105-acre site in Downers Grove, is home to nearly 3,000 students and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine; the College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove; the College of Health Sciences, Downers Grove; the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois; the Chicago College of Optometry; and the College of Graduate Studies, Downers Grove.  The Arizona campus, located on a 156-acre site in Glendale, is home to over 3,900 students and the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine; the College of Pharmacy, Glendale; the College of Health Sciences, Glendale; the College of Dental Medicine-Arizona; the Arizona College of Optometry; the College of Veterinary Medicine; the College of Graduate Studies, Glendale; and the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine. The University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, visit http://www.midwestern.edu or call 630/515-7333.