Dec. 7, 2023 — The SUNY College of Optometry and its foundation, the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY), recently recognized more than 50 students during the college’s annual scholarship presentation program.
 
Initially established with five scholarships awarded to six students, the scholarship program has since grown to 27 scholarships awarded to 50 students due to donations allowing the foundation to provide approximately $370,000 to future optometrists.
 
“This is a wonderful evening, one of the highlights of the year, where donors are brought together with the scholarship students,” says SUNY College of Optometry president David A. Heath, O.D., EdM. “When student debt is reduced by virtue of these scholarships, our generous donors are providing our students with greater choice and opportunity in their optometric journey.”
 
In addition to a $50,000 increase in the OCNY scholarship, several new scholarships were included this year: the Optical Community Scholarship honors students who demonstrate personal experience with or interest in working with underserved patients and communities, the Community Health Lecture Scholarship honors those interested in health care access and community health centers, and the Paul Canney Scholarship, donated by Class of 2023 alumna Avalena Linsky, O.D., which is expected to become an annual scholarship in the future.
 
Speaking fondly of her great-grandfather for whom the Paul Canney Scholarship is named, Dr. Linsky shares personal insight from his struggle to find adequate health care to address his very advanced macular degeneration, adding, “My great-grandfather funded part of my education, so my mom and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor him than to contribute to someone else’s education who is studying advanced competency in ocular disease.” 
 
For a full list of scholarship recipients, click here.