-

National Vision Awards $12,500 to Three Optometry Students in 10th Annual Scholarship Program

Winners Recognized for Future-Focused Perspectives on AI’s Role in Expanding Eye Care Access

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Vision, Inc., one of the nation’s largest optical retailers providing quality, affordable eye care and eyewear, announced today the winners of its 10th annual scholarship program, awarding $12,500 in scholarships to empower the next generation of optometrists as they shape the future of eye care.

Each year, the program challenges optometry students to explore a topic shaping the future of eye care through essays or videos. For the 2024-2025 scholarship, students tackled “AI and the Future of Eye Care,” examining the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into the field. Winners were selected for their forward-thinking perspectives on how AI can enhance accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and help optometrists bring innovative, high-quality care to diverse communities.

"AI is reshaping health care, and it's exciting to see how future optometrists are thinking about its potential," said Alexander Smith, O.D., Head of Doctor Network at National Vision. "This year’s scholarship winners offered fresh, innovative ideas on how AI can enhance accessibility and improve patient outcomes. As technology advances, the role of optometrists in driving meaningful, patient-centered innovation has never been more important."

The 2024-2025 scholarship program winners include:

  • First Place ($7,500): Faye Nie, Southern California College of Optometry, Class of 2025
  • Runner-Up ($2,500): Victoria Cao, University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science, Class of 2026
  • Runner-Up ($2,500): Isabella Jenson, Arizona College of Optometry, Class of 2026

The program was open to third- and fourth-year optometry students in good standing at an optometry school in the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada. A panel of licensed optometrists reviewed each submission, selecting one exceptional winner and two outstanding runners-up. Students were encouraged to explore the role of AI in shaping the future of eye care, supported by credible research and insights from any relevant projects or initiatives they’ve contributed to in advancing accessibility and innovation within the field.

About National Vision Holdings, Inc.

National Vision Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EYE) is one of the largest optical retail companies in the United States with over 1,200 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico. With a mission of helping people by making quality eye care and eyewear more affordable and accessible, the company operates four retail brands: America’s Best, Eyeglass World, and Vista Opticals inside select Fred Meyer stores and on select military bases, and an e-commerce website DiscountContacts.com, offering a variety of products and services for customers’ eye care needs. For more information, please visit www.nationalvision.com.

Contacts

National Vision, Inc.

NASDAQ:EYE

Release Versions

Contacts

More News From National Vision, Inc.

National Vision Names VML Agency of Record

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Vision Holdings, Inc., a leading optical retail company behind brands like America's Best and Eyeglass World, has appointed VML as its agency of record (AOR) following a competitive review. VML will play a key role in leading National Vision’s brand evolution, redefining National Vision's communication and brand platforms with a focus on creative, CRM, social strategy, brand identity and design, and experiential. The new partnership will support National Visio...

National Vision’s 20/20 Quest Foundation Grants $25,000 to Optometry Giving Sight to Support Global Vision Care Initiatives

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Vision, Inc. announced today that its charitable foundation, 20/20 Quest, has awarded a $25,000 grant to Optometry Giving Sight (OGS). The funding supports OGS’s ongoing mission to combat preventable blindness and vision impairment by expanding access to optometry professionals in underserved regions. Since its inception, OGS has awarded over 200 grants, provided eye care to more than 8 million people, and trained over 14,000 optometrists and eye care prof...

National Vision Opens 2024-2025 Scholarship Program, Highlighting AI’s Role in the Future of Eye Care

DULUTH, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Vision, Inc., one of the nation’s largest optical retailers providing quality, affordable eye care and eyewear, announced today that its annual scholarship program is open for entries, offering eligible optometry students the opportunity to win up to $7,500. This year’s scholarship program challenges students to explore the topic of “AI and the Future of Eye Care.” Third- and fourth-year optometry students are invited to submit written or video essays disc...
Back to Newsroom