Latest News American Optometric Foundation Announces 2016 VSP Global Scholarship Recipients By Staff Friday, December 9, 2016 12:15 AM ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Optometric Foundation (AOF), an affiliate of the American Academy of Optometry (AAO), and VSP Global announced the recipients of this year’s Practice Excellence Scholarships. Nearly $200,000 will be distributed among top-performing fourth year optometry students in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.Two students from each school or college of optometry were nominated by their individual institutions to receive the scholarship. The scholarships are funded through VSP Global’s Eyes of Hope Global Charitable Fund in collaboration with FYi Doctors in Canada and is administered through the AOF. “As a practicing optometrist, I know how critical it is to invest in the next generation of eye doctors,” said Dan Mannen, OD, FAAO, VSP Global Board chairman. “We congratulate all the scholarship recipients and are excited for them as they embark on their new careers and begin to help elevate the optometric profession.”The scholarship included a travel grant to participate in the AAO’s 95th annual meeting, which took place Nov. 9 to 12 in Anaheim, Calif. The VSP Global Practice Excellence Scholarship reception took place Nov. 10.See the full list of the 2016 Practice Excellence Scholarship recipients below:Illinois College of Optometry - ICO Jamie Blavat and Emily HutchinsIndiana University School of Optometry - IUSO Brittany Foerg and Tyler VermeerInter American University of Puerto, School of Optometry – IAUPRSO Sai Ka Oscar Tsang and Dominic D'OrazioMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Detlef (Hans) Sleichter and Anna LiewMichigan College of Optometry – MCO at Ferris State University Gabrielle Smiley and Hannah RillemaMidwestern University Arizona College of Optometry - MUACO Dianne Settlage and Desiree VanderstarNew England College of Optometry - NECO Avani Dave and Michael MerrittNortheastern State University Oklahoma, College of Optometry - NSUOCO Pamela Martin and Laura LangfordNOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry - NSUCO Kaily Tschantz and Justin CheletteOhio State University College of Optometry - OSUCO Taylor McGann and Nicole MikelsPacific University College of Optometry - PUCO Kelsey Elrod and Paul NefedovPennsylvania College of Optometry – PCO at Salus University Carly J. Grodin and Jenna RoneyRosenberg School of Optometry – RSO University of the Incarnate Word Kirsti Ramirez and William Reid CluffSouthern California College of Optometry – SCCO at Marshall B. Ketchum University Michael Tran and Emma LySouthern College of Optometry - SCO Tyler Boone and Ben RoachState University of New York College of Optometry - SUNY Karen Levy and Drake R. DevosUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham - UAB Ellen Prewitt and Kelly ClearyUniversity of California-Berkeley, School of Optometry - UCB Sloan Rajadhyksha and Annie LeeUniversity of Houston, College of Optometry - UHCO Elisabeth Hottel and Michael O'NealUniversity of Missouri -St. Louis, College of Optometry – UMSL Peter Bako and Elias ToubiaUniversity of Montreal, School of Optometry - UMSO Annie-Pier and Solange LaCroixUniversity of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science - UWSOVS Victoria Lomax and Karin LypkaWestern University of Health Sciences College of Optometry - WUHSCO Katherine Ha and Victoria Chan