Optometry Grants

American Academy of Optometry Annual Meeting Student Travel Fellowship

$750 travel fellowships for students and residents to attend the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. The application deadline: August 4, 2010 and the recommendation deadline is August 6, 2010.

The American Academy of Optometry
6110 Executive Blvd.
Suite 506
Rockville,MD 20852
USA

Phone: (301) 984-1441
Fax: (301) 984-4737

College of Optometrists in Vision Development Annual Meeting Travel Grant

The Annual Meeting Travel Grant is offered to encourage and support optometry student participation at the meeting. COVD members donate to this fund to support student attendance at the meeting. The number and amount of the grants given are based on monies available in the fund each year.

The COVD 40th Annual Meeting will be held October 12-16 in Puerto Rico. This year up to thirty-five $200 grants are available for students and residents.

To be eligible to receive a grant, an optometry student must:

Be a COVD member
Submit an application and current copy of your CV. Be sure to include any posters or papers you are presenting at the Annual Meeting.
After your application is received, you will be given the title of an article to summarize.
Grant recipients will be selected based on a review of their CV and article summary.

Deadline for application submission is August 12, 2010.

Decisions will be made on or before August 27, 2010.

College of Optometrists in Vision Development
215 West Garfield Road, Suite 200
Aurora, OH 44202
P 330-995-0718 | 888-268-3770
F 330-995-0719

The J. Pat Cummings ACUVUE® Scholarship

Until recently this scholarship was known as the ACUVUE® Eye Health Advisor Student Citizenship Scholarship. Following the tragic death of Dr Cummings, Vistakon and the American Optometric Foundation decided that the scholarship should be renamed in his honor. This J. Pat Cummings ACUVUE® Scholarship is conferred annually to a second or third year optometry student at each of the U.S. and Canadian schools and colleges of optometry who best demonstrates the ideal eye care standards of practice. To qualify, the recipient must demonstrate achievement in both academic performance and extra-curricular activities, along with other professional pursuits such as involvement with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities.

Scholarship
One $1,000 scholarship toward academic expenses and personalized plaque to a second year or third year student at each of the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Purpose
To recognize outstanding student clinicians who best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice.

Eligibility
Second or third year students attending a school or college of optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico are eligible.

Criteria
Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic and extra-curricular achievements, along with other professional pursuits such as involvement with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities. Recipients will best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice, including: (a) the importance of eye health; (b) proper contact lens wear and care; (c) community service and volunteerism.

Selection
The appropriate award selection committee at each of the schools/colleges of optometry will select the one student who meets the eligibility requirements and best demonstrates the qualities detailed in the above criteria.

Submission and Deadline
Nominations must be submitted electronically by e-mail with subject line: J. PAT CUMMINGS ACUVUE® Scholarship by COB September 10, 2010.

For additional questions or information, contact Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at 301-984-4734.

Essilor Optical Technology Grants

The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) and Essilor are delighted to announce their partnership on the Essilor Optical Technology Grants program, now in its eighth year. Three $20,000 grants are awarded annually to optometry schools for projects intended to elevate the standards and visibility of ophthalmic dispensing to students and patients in the training environment. In the past, grants have been competitively awarded for projects as diverse as to facilitating education and training for clinical outreach in underserved areas, to updating education in teaching and dispensing clinics and providing laboratory equipment that enriches the students training experience. This is part of a commitment by the Foundation and Essilor to develop the next generation of eyecare professionals.

Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted by email to Email AOF Awards. Only one application may be submitted by each school or college of optometry and must be endorsed by the Dean or President of the school/college. The application must include full contact information for the institution and responsible individual.

In 1000 words or less the applicant should state how the grant will be used to further their educational program. The deadline for applications is September 3, 2010.

A 500 word progress report must be submitted by awardees in June of the subsequent year in order for the institution to be eligible for future Essilor Optical Technology Grants. No institution will receive a grant two years in a row.

Review Procedures
Applications will be judged on the school’s commitment to the growth of premium optical technology, as well as how the funding will enable the school to elevate the standards and visibility of ophthalmic dispensing for students and patients. A five-member review panel, including one representative form Essilor, will be convened by the American Optometric Foundation.

Recognition of Awardees
The awardees will be listed in the AOF Annual Report and the American Academy of Optometry’s awards program. Announcements will be placed in the Academy’s newsletter along with Eye-Mail Monthly. Press releases will be sent to all schools and colleges of optometry, optometric organizations, and the optometric press.

For additional information about the American Optometric Foundation, contact Mark Bullimore, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, Development Director: by phone (614) 292-4724.