July 11, 2024 — Transitions Optical and its diversity advisory board are accepting applications for the inaugural Diversity in Optical educational grant program through Saturday, Aug. 31, at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Part of the EssilorLuxottica group, Transitions Optical will award five $1,000 grants to high school seniors planning to attend opticianry school in the U.S. Additionally, two $5,000 grants will be awarded to second-year optometry or ophthalmology students at accredited U.S. schools.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. They must also be members of marginalized groups currently underrepresented in the U.S. optical industry.

“Our Diversity in Optical grant program aims to help pave a path toward a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable industry by removing financial burden and providing historically underrepresented populations with the opportunity to act on their professional interests by receiving quality higher education,” says Arlene Barringer, senior marketing manager, trade communications, Transitions.

Grant funds can be used for expenses related to pursuing a career in the optical industry, such as educational materials or tuition reimbursement. Recipients must provide proof that the funds were used for these purposes.

Interested applicants can apply online here. Submissions require a one-page letter of recommendation from a teacher or professor, an official high school or college transcript, and a 500-word personal essay or short video on the importance of diversity in the optical industry. Additionally, applicants must also answer one of three questions about the role of optical professionals in increasing diversity and ensuring equitable and inclusive patient care.

The Transitions Diversity Advisory Board, comprising optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians from the largest and fastest-growing minority demographic groups in the U.S., will judge the applications. Grant winners will be announced in September 2024.