ST. LOUIS—Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation has announced their 2016 scholarship recipients. Four scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 were given including the Bernard Maitenaz scholarship, the InfantSEE Scholarship Grant, the Dr. Seymour Galina Grant and the Dr. Pat and Patrick Cummings Scholarship.

The $10,000 Bernard Maitenaz Scholarship was awarded to Pacific University third-year student Kim Forgione. Applicants for the scholarship must demonstrate leadership, and participation in school and community activities, honors and work experience among other requirements. The scholarship, sponsored by Essilor, honors Bernard Maitenaz the inventor of the Varilux lens and one of the foremost authorities in optical science and engineering.

Shelby Nicole Baugh Bruner of University of Missouri St. Louis, College of Optometry was honored with the $5,000 first place InfantSEE Scholarship Grant and Kalie McCartin of Salus University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry was awarded the second place grant of $2,500. Sponsored by Vision West, Inc., the InfantSEE Scholarship Grant requires third-year optometry students to submit an essay and video describing their commitment to children’s vision.

University of Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University third-year student, Clay Connolly is the recipient of the $2,500 Dr. Seymour Galina Grant. Applicants were required to write an essay about qualities they developed through work experience and financial planning during or before optometry school that will be the most useful in a professional optometric practice.

Jeremy Chartash, a fourth-year student at Nova Southeastern University was honored with the $5,000 Dr. Pat and Patrick Cummings Scholarship. The scholarship requires recipients to write an essay about their goals in public health and leadership roles in optometry. The Scholarship was established through Optometry Cares in tribute to father and son who both passed away in separate incidents. The memorial scholarship was funded by numerous individual donors as well as a large contribution from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.