VSP Vision and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation Announce 2023 Practice Excellence Scholarship Winners

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — Last month, VSP Vision™ and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) announced the recipients of this year’s Practice Excellence Scholarship, which has been recognizing the very best in what optometry has to offer in patient care and practice management for nearly 40 years.

The longstanding Practice Excellence Scholarship is awarded to optometry students who demonstrate excellence in both clinical and academic performance, as well as a commitment to enter the independent practice of optometry. Funded by VSP Vision and administered through the AAOF, $188,000 was awarded to 49 top-performing, fourth-year optometry students in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.  

“For almost 40 years, VSP Vision has been proud to support top-performing students of optometry as they prepare to begin their careers in helping patients see,” said VSP Vision Board Chair Mary Anne Murphy, OD. “The Practice Excellence Scholarship is yet another way VSP Vision is helping create opportunities for the next generation of optometrists to thrive. On behalf of VSP, we congratulate all of this year’s recipients on this hard-earned and well-deserved award.”

In 2023 alone, VSP Vision has funded scholarships for 71 optometry students, totaling $300,000. Over the past 10 years, VSP Vision has provided nearly $4 million in scholarship support to optometry students. 

“We are pleased to partner with VSP Vision on such an important and long-standing scholarship that supports the optometrists of tomorrow,” said Rachel A. “Stacey” Coulter, OD, AAOF, President of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation Board and Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at NSU Florida. “The clinical and academic excellence demonstrated by each recipient is a testament to the quality care and commitment that these future optometrists will bring to their patients, as well as the optometric profession.”

Recipients of the 2023 Practice Excellence scholarship award include:

• Cayden Carpenter – Midwestern University - Arizona College of Optometry
• Cole Rayfield – Midwestern University - Arizona College of Optometry
• Emily Strand – Illinois College of Optometry
• Silishia Wong – Illinois College of Optometry
• Michelle McKamey – Indiana University School of Optometry
• Nicholas Bantz – Indiana University School of Optometry
• Alaina Conturso – Inter American University of Puerto Rico
• Armando Vazquez – Inter American University of Puerto Rico
• Benjamin Choiniere – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Jillian Scarpanito – Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Leah Jipping – Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
• Nicholas Keinath – Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
• Eryka Uehling – Midwestern University - Chicago College 
• Husna Syeda – Midwestern University - Chicago College of Optometry
• Josh Normandeau – New England College of Optometry
• Zach Turple – New England College of Optometry
• Abbie Etter – Northeastern State University – Oklahoma College of Optometry
• Christina Thompson – Northeastern State University – Oklahoma College of Optometry
• Abishna Jayasundararajah – Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
• Samantha Round – Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry 
• Mary J. Avisado – Pacific University College of Optometry
• Nathan Patterson – Pacific University College of Optometry
• Zakary Lake – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
• Megan Dunn – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
• Dhara Patel – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
• Mitchell Evans – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University 
• Deema Mansour – Southern College of Optometry
• Madhurima Kota – Southern College of Optometry
• Jessica Moskovich – State University of New York College of Optometry
• Kateryna Nahornyak – State University of New York College of Optometry
• Pearson Miller – The Ohio State University College of Optometry
• Madeline Moser – The Ohio State University College of Optometry
• Adam Litalien – Universite de Montreal, School of Optometry
• Elizabeth Lapointe – Universite de Montreal, School of Optometry
• Ryan Peardon – University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
• Keyur Savla – University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
• Ahmad Ahmadzada – University of California - Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Eloisa Morfin – University of California - Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Adrian Velasco – University of Houston College of Optometry
• Zachary Ney – University of Houston College of Optometry
• Brad Gamache – University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry
• Charles E Hauff – University of Missouri, St. Louis College of Optometry
• Brittany Morris – University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Optometry
• Eric Joseph Gonzalez – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
• Mateo Alvarez – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
• Judit Antonyrajan – University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Natali Milosevski – University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Luis Manuel Rego II – Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
• Talisa Chhabra – Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry

As part of its commitment to the future generation of the optometric industry, 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.  

About the American Academy of Optometry Foundation
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and was founded in 1947 for the “upholding, broadening, fostering, promoting and aiding of optometric education; the profession of optometry and its practitioners.” The organization provides financial support for optometric research and vision and eye health education to improve patient clinical care. For more information, visit the website: https://aaopt.org/.