DULUTH, Ga.—National Vision, Inc. announced the three winners of its 2015-2016 optometry grant program. Winners included students from NOVA Southeastern College of Optometry, University of Alabama Birmingham and New England College of Optometry. The grand prize winner and two runner-up recipients were selected by a panel of judges from National Vision, Inc.

Third-and fourth-year optical students submitted an essay or video describing their perspectives on the need for affordable primary eyecare in today’s changing health care landscape. The first-place winner will receive a grand prize of $5,000, with two runner-up recipients each receiving $1,000.

First place went to Vy Pham from NOVA Southeastern College of Optometry’s class of 2017. The runners up were Emma Budraitis from the University of Alabama Birmingham’s class of 2016 and Francesca Sefton from New England College of Optometry’s class of 2017.

“It’s essential that this next generation of eyecare professionals understands how important affordable, primary care optometry is in our communities,” said Alex Louw, senior vice president, professional services, National Vision, Inc. “The winning submissions truly showed an understanding of the barriers people face when it comes to accessing eyecare and encouragingly proved that they are prepared to take responsibility in combating these barriers in their future careers.”