Latest News VSP Global and AAOF Announce 2017 Practice Excellence Scholarship Recipients By Staff Friday, October 20, 2017 12:18 AM VSP Global and AAOF 2017 Practice Excellence Scholarship Recipients. RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — VSP Global and the American Academy Optometric Foundation (AAOF), 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.“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.”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 FYidoctors 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 are excited to collaborate with VSP Global and the schools and colleges of optometry for another year to provide this important award to these deserving students,” said David Kirschen, OD, PhD, FAAO, president of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation.The scholarship includes a travel grant to participate in the American Academy of Optometry's 96th annual meeting at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, Ill. Recipients were recognized at a special reception on Oct. 12.The 2017 Practice Excellence Scholarship recipients are:Illinois College of Optometry – ICOTaylor HarrisJessica Chan Indiana University School of Optometry – IUSORachel RexingChristopher Reed Inter American University of Puerto Rico, School of Optometry – IAUPRSO Bianca Augustino Christopher McCollumMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences- MCPHS Jillian Boyd Alison Zhou Michigan College of Optometry - MCO at Ferris State University Allison Webster Kristen Johnson Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry - MUACO Brett Christensen Derek Blankenship New England College of Optometry - NECO Chantelle Davis Karlee Muller Northeastern State University Oklahoma, College of Optometry - NSUOCO Randy Cox Melanie Newcomer NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry - NSUCO Meredith Kristin Barnes Samuel Petro Ohio State University College of Optometry - OSUCO Cory J. Lappin H. Tanner Wentzien Pacific University College of Optometry - PUCO Abby Taffe Aaron Salzano Pennsylvania College of Optometry - PCO at Salus University Jordan Heidelbaugh Joshua Heersink Rosenberg School of Optometry - RSO University of the Incarnate Word Katlyn Martin Lindsey Primeaux Southern California College of Optometry - SCCO at Marshall B. Ketchum University Katherine Zhang Mark Yeghiazarian Southern College of Optometry - SCO Chelci Reynolds Allan McCleary State University of New York College of Optometry - SUNY Elaina M. Nellis Tristan Barrueco University of Alabama at Birmingham - UAB Jonathan Davis Haley Hixon Steven Perry
