Nov. 21, 2024 — VSP Vision and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) have announced the recipients of the 2024 Practice Excellence Scholarship. This annual award recognizes outstanding fourth-year optometry students in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada for their achievements in academic and clinical performance, as well as their commitment to independent optometric practice.

The scholarship, funded by VSP Vision and administered by the AAOF, distributed nearly $200,000 among 50 students this year. Over the past decade, VSP Vision has contributed nearly $4 million in scholarship support to optometry students.

“VSP Vision recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of optometrists as they begin their rewarding careers in eye care,” says VSP Vision board chair Matt Wickham, O.D. “These scholarships reflect our commitment to support and create opportunities for this vital profession, and we congratulate all of the 2024 recipients.”

“Every year, we are impressed with the academic and clinical excellence demonstrated by each recipient of the Practice Excellence Scholarship and this next generation of optometrists have a bright future ahead of them,” says AAOF president Valerie Sharpe, O.D., FAAO. “We are grateful to VSP Vision for this partnership as we both continue to champion the success of the optometric profession.”

Recipients of the 2024 Practice Excellence scholarship award include:

• Madison Huynh, Illinois College of Optometry
• Shang-Yun (Wendy) Huang, Illinois College of Optometry
• Alec Compton, Indiana University School of Optometry
• Madison Neale, Indiana University School of Optometry
• Kimberly Castellanos, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
• Brie Aguon, Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
• Gabrielle Anderson, Kentucky College of Optometry at University of Pikeville
• Megan Carry, Kentucky College of Optometry at University of Pikeville
• Lilly Lien Phan, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Sameer Majumdar, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Riley Parker, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
• Tania Styma, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
• Alli O’Shea, Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry
• Nicole J Boyer, Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry
• Giacomo Cilliani, Midwestern University, Chicago College of Optometry
• Hana Tulemat, Midwestern University, Chicago College of Optometry
• Alexandra Baillie, New England College of Optometry
• Rachel Harmon, New England College of Optometry
• Cori Ashton Dorrell, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
• Tate Buster, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
• Adelda Blanc, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
• Colleen Furey, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
• Emily Bittman, Pacific University College of Optometry
• Meagan R. Seufert, Pacific University College of Optometry
• Claire Chu, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Drexel University
• Lawrence Sunga Yabut, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Drexel University
• Faye Nie, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B Ketchum University
• Vanessa Tran, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B Ketchum University
• Hannah Marek, Southern College of Optometry
• Leslie Ibarra, Southern College of Optometry
• Christina Canellos, SUNY College of Optometry
• Julianna Dolinski, SUNY College of Optometry
• Joshua Stefan, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
• Maddison Fortman, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
• Baldemar Torres, UC Berkely, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Jessica JQ Wang, UC Berkely, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science
• Brenton Maxwell Weeks, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
• Isabella Simmons, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
• Jackson Dolce, University of Houston College of Optometry
• Luis Ramirez, University of Houston College of Optometry
• Brandon Merrill, University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry
• Valerie D’Souza, University of Missouri St. Louis College of Optometry
• Alina Tran, University of Montreal School of Optometry
• Catherine Forest, University of Montreal School of Optometry
• Brazil Andrews, University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
• Jenna Kveton, University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
• Laura Appleby, University of Waterloo
• Michelle Zhang, University of Waterloo
• Madisyn Jones, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
• Jessica Yeh, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry