ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation—an affiliate of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO)—has announced the 2017 Practice Excellence Scholarship recipients. Nearly $200,000 will be distributed among 44 top-performing fourth-year optometry students in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

Two students from each college of optometry were selected as scholarship recipients from nominations submitted by their individual institutions. Since 2000, VSP has provided nearly $2 million in scholarship support to hundreds of optometry students.

The scholarships are funded through VSP Global’s Eyes of Hope Global Charitable Fund in collaboration with FYi doctors in Canada (for Canadian recipients) and is administered through the AAOF. Key criteria for selecting the scholarship recipients include the student’s commitment to enter the independent practice of optometry, clinical performance and academic performance.

“We congratulate these students on their studies and commitment to an important profession we all cherish,” said Dan Mannen, OD, FAAO, VSP Global Board chairman. “We remain committed to continue our efforts of investing in the next generation of optometry.”

The 2017 Practice Excellence Scholarship recipients include: Taylor Harris and Jessica Chan from the Illinois College of Optometry; Rachel Rexing and Christopher Reed from the Indiana University School of Optometry; Bianca Augustino and Christopher McCollum from the Inter American University of Puerto School of Optometry; Jillian Boyd and Alison Zhou from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences; Allison Webster and Kristen Johnson from the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University; Brett Christensen and Derek Blankenship from the Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry; Chantelle Davis and Karlee Muller from the New England College of Optometry; Randy Cox and Melanie Newcomer from the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry; Meredith Kristin Barnes and Samuel Petro from the NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry; and Cory Lappin and Herbert T. Wentzien from the Ohio State University College of Optometry.

Additional recipients are: Abby Taffe and Aaron Salzano from the Pacific University College of Optometry; Jordan Heidelbaugh and Joshua Heersink from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University; Katlyn Martin and Lindsey Primeaux from the Rosenberg School of Optometry University of the Incarnate Word; Katherine Zhang and Mark Yeghiazarian from the Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University; Chelci Reynolds and Allan McCleary from the Southern College of Optometry; and Elaina M. Nellis and Tristan Barrueco from the State University of New York College of Optometry.

Jonathan Davis and Haley Hixon from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; Steven Perry and Ece Turhal from the University of California-Berkeley School of Optometry; Brian Hart and Melanie Deitch from the University of Houston College of Optometry; Taylor Dahms and Ramya Natarajan from the University of Missouri -St. Louis College of Optometry; Michelle Zakem and Lorie St-Amour from the University of Montreal School of Optometry; Sana Owais and Courtney Fan from the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science; and Kevin Drew and Katalina Yandell from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry were also awarded the scholarship.

The scholarship included a travel grant to participate in the American Academy of Optometry's 96th annual meeting at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago. Recipients were recognized at a special reception on Oct. 12.