Luxottica Announces 2017 Eye Care Optometry Scholarship Winners
Mason, OH, October 5, 2017 – Luxottica today announced winners of the 2017 Luxottica Eye Care Optometry Scholarships. Twenty students of optometry in the U.S. and Canada won awards of $5,000 each. In total, the scholarship program, new this year, awarded $100,000 this year. Student winners were selected based upon accomplishments in the areas of academics, leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities.
The scholarship program resulted from a deep collaboration between Luxottica and the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA). Students asked for financial assistance to offset the growing costs of an optometry education with the average student debt of around $200,000 upon graduation. The decision to create the scholarship shows Luxottica’s continued commitment to helping the next generation of ODs as they pursue their education and career.
Building on that commitment, the Luxottica Eye Care Team also created eyeFWD, an OD development initiative to provide resources, both real-life and data-driven, to OD students who are interested in gaining a broader understanding on how to build and maintain a successful practice upon graduation. The inaugural session of the 5-day OD development program will take place at Luxottica headquarters in Cincinnati from October 7-11. The program is bringing thirty top, entrepreneurial-minded students from thirteen different schools to participate. Industry partners such as Johnson & Johnson and Topcon have joined this initiative.
Lastly, students asked for opportunities to participate in social impact projects like OneSight, a worldwide non-profit that, since its foundation in 1988, has served 10 million people in 46 countries to see better. 25 students accompanied Luxottica affiliated ODs and volunteers to the Tanzania Vision Care Clinic this summer. In 2018, Luxottica, the AOSA and OneSight will partner for two clinic trips.
Luxottica Announces Winners of OWA Scholarship
Mason, OH, October 16, 2017 – Luxottica announces the award of one-year memberships to the Optical Women’s Association (OWA) for twenty-two female optometry students who exhibit traits valued by the profession of optometry. Students completed an application and essay. Scholarship eligibility was limited to students in their 3rd or 4th year of optometry school.
“Supporting the future of our profession by helping connect student leaders with industry standouts elevates us all,” says Jason Singh, OD, Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Eye Care at Luxottica Retail North America. “The energy and talent these students bring to their academic and clinical experience set them apart as true leaders.”
The OWA supports its membership by providing mentoring and outreach opportunities, professional and social networking, a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among all levels of the industry, and by raising awareness of women's roles in the optical industry.
Deb Bulken, Sales Director (Eastern Region) for Luxottica and an OWA board member, joined the OWA in 2011. “I love having the opportunity to engage with like-minded women, who see the potential in all women in our industry, to engage through continuous learning and networking to become the best leaders they can be,” she says.
Winner List
- Tara Mahvelati, ’19, State University of New York –State College of Optometry
- Elkie Fung, ’19, State University of New York –State College of Optometry
- Yohanna Emun, ’19, State University of New York –State College of Optometry
- Tara Damani, ’19, State University of New York –State College of Optometry
- Maciel Cruz, 19, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - School of Optometry
- Tehreem Khan, ’19, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences - School of Optometry
- Mallory Scrimger,’19, Illinois College of Optometry
- Lauren Yoon, ’18, Illinois College of Optometry
- Allison Guindon, ’19, Salus University Pennsylvania School of Optometry
- Katherine Funari, ’18, Salus University Pennsylvania School of Optometry
- Valerie Tran, ’18, University of California-Berkeley, School of Optometry
- Ece Turhal, ’18, University of California-Berkeley, School of Optometry
- Carly Hyshka, ’18, Pacific University College of Optometry
- Alexa Ives, ’19, Pacific University College of Optometry
- Shannon Koenders, 18, University of the Incarnate Word - Rosenberg School of Optometry
- Alexandra Wiechmann, ’19, University of the Incarnate Word - Rosenberg School of Optometry
- Amy Henderson, ’18, University of Alabama at Birmingham - School of Optometry
- Ariel Pschaidl, ’19, Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University
- Shazia Karim, ’19, University of Houston - College of Optometry
- Marielle Blumenthaler, ’19, The Ohio State University - School of Optometry
- Sarai Williams, ’19, Southern College of Optometry
- Jaclyn Chang. ’19, University of Waterloo School of Optometry
