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Michigan College of Optometry Scholarships
Michigan College of Optometry Internal Scholarships
To be considered for any scholarship in which you meet the criterion for, apply from December 15 to March 1 with the general optometry scholarship application at Scholarship Universe.
The MCO Scholarship and Awards Committee will determine the recipients based on the information in your application.
2024-2025 Scholarship Recipients
First Year Students
Rougina Abdelmesih
Undergraduate Studies: University of Ottawa
Scholarship Received: John E. Christie Memorial
Why Optometry: Rougina worked in a retirement home during college and became interested in working with elderly patients in healthcare. She became interested in optometry after talking with and job shadowing an optometrist from her church. She feels this will be a rewarding career where she can have an immediate impact on her patients and see their vision and quality of life improve.
robert yaremko
Undergraduate: University of Toronto
Scholarship Received: John E. Christie Memorial & MCO Alumni
Why Optometry: Bobby became interested in optometry halfway through completing his master’s degree. He enjoyed job shadowing, flexibility, and seeing and helping patients. He also likes the idea of owning his own private practice one day.
Spencer baptiste
Undergraduate Studies: University of Waterloo.
Scholarship Received: Sandon, Thomas Scholarship Endowment
Why Optometry: Spencer became interested in optometry while in high school. He was interested in health care and while looking around for potential places to work, he landed in an optometry office where he worked for about 5 summers as well as part time in high school. He was trained in most everything including OCT, visual fields, edging, lab inspections, pre-testing, dispensing, front desk and enjoyed every minute of it.
Julia Baldus
Undergraduate Studies: Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota
Scholarship Received: 19 Michigan Foundation for Vision Awareness & MCO First Professional Year
Why Optometry: Julia became interested in optometry because she was interested in science and knew she wanted to do something in health care. She has worn glasses since she was little and received exceptional care growing up. She appreciates the fulfillment of helping people with their vision and the flexibility the profession provides.
bijan anvari
Undergraduate Studies: McMaster University.
Scholarship Received: 19 Michigan Foundation for Vision Awareness & MCO First Professional Year Optometry
Why Optometry: Bijan became interested in optometry because he enjoys learning about the eye and talking and sharing with other people. His hope is as a practicing optometrist he can work in communities to provide services to underserved populations.
grace Monson
Undergraduate Studies: Nebraska Wesleyan University
Scholarship Received: Charles & Dorothy Peterson
Why Optometry: Grace became interested because she needed glasses when she was in 3rd grade and later wore contacts. Later on, she had a family friend she shadowed in her Junior year of high school. Grace has always been interested in science, she enjoyed job shadowing and decided to pursue optometry.
elizabeth tancos
Undergraduate Studies: Valparaiso University, IN.
Scholarship Received: Charles & Dorothy Peterson
Why Optometry: Elizabeth became interested in optometry when she was in 2nd grade. She couldn’t see the board and failed the vision exam. This is when she got her first pair of glasses. She shadowed a practice her Senior year of high school and enjoyed working in the practice over the summer.
hunter bentley
Undergraduate Studies: FSU - Dual Enrolled West Shore CC gen eds
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Hunter became interested in optometry his Sophomore year of high school during his yearly eye exam. He knew he wanted to do something medical and could see himself doing this. He ran with it and is enjoying it.
emily gilbert
Undergraduate Studies: FSU 3 + 4 student
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Emily always knew she wanted to help people. She wanted to mesh education and career with being able to help and share knowledge with people. She has known since Junior year of high school she wanted to do optometry.
kyle benko
Undergraduate Studies: FSU EAP
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Kyle always knew he wanted to do something health related. He started going to the optometrist in second grade. His optometrist is a family friend, and Kyle was able to see quite a lot. He started really thinking about this program around his high school years.
Levi giroux
Undergraduate Studies: FSU EAP Program
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Levi failed his middle school eye exam one year, however, he liked the way his optometrist explained things to him and his mom. This made him feel good about considering optometry. He started thinking about optometry more when older. Working one on one with people appealed to him.
eileen liang
Undergraduate Studies: U of M Ann Arbor
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Eileen became interested in optometry when she was young. She grew up in her grandparent’s home, where her grandpa had eye problems with many optometrist appointments. Her grandparents are immigrants from China and don’t speak English. She often accompanied to help them understand. She has always had interest in healthcare and the doctor/ patient interaction is a big part for her.
rachel o'dea
Undergraduate Studies: FSU
Scholarship Received: Weeks-Lakin Optometry
Why Optometry: Rachel became interested because she started wearing glasses at 8 years old and quickly transitioned into Ortho-K lenses. Through the impact her eye doctor and eye care had on her life, she realized this was something she wanted to do for others. Glaucoma runs in her family, and she sees the impact that eye care has had to help reduce vision loss.
Second Year Students
elise radzioch
Undergraduate Studies: Macomb Community College
Scholarship Received: Dr. Henry R. Racki
Why Optometry: Elise always knew she liked math and science, and she wants a good work/life balance. Optometry fit all her criteria and she decided her Senior year to go into optometry.
Third Year Students
laura strothman
Undergraduate Studies: Southern Adventist University
Scholarship Received: Robert VanHoven
Why Optometry: She received her first pair of glasses when she was a little girl that changed her life. She wants to be able to give others that same experience. She knows this is the perfect career for her.
melanie elliott
Undergraduate Studies: University of Michigan
Scholarship Received: Robert VanHoven
Why Optometry: Melanie became interested in optometry while completing her master’s degree. She shadowed a few optometrists, and it aligned with her career and life goals. Eyeballs are just cool, and she feels you can give people a significant quality of life improvement just with glasses, which is amazing and unique.
lindsey hopkins
Undergraduate Studies: Eastern Michigan University
Scholarship Received: Dr. Jack Bennett Memorial
Why Optometry: Lindsey became interested in optometry by accident. She worked as a medical assistant and realized she was interested in patient care concerning the eyes. She found her calling and knew optometry was where she wanted to go.
olivia travis
Undergraduate Studies: Ferris State University
Scholarship Received: Joseph Sasaki Endowment
Why Optometry: Olivia became interested in optometry in high school after suffering multiple athletic related concussions. She always knew she wanted to go into the medical field and having a positive interaction with her optometrist helped make her decision.
Additional Scholarships
kody drewer
Undergraduate Studies: Ferris State University
Scholarship Received: Paul Borton
Why Optometry: Kody became interested in optometry at a young age when he started wearing glasses and loved how vividly he could see. When he was older, he looked into optometry and liked the work/life balance. He is really interested in socializing with patients.
saif abdulameer
Undergraduate Studies: Ferris State University
Scholarship Received: Dr. Merrill Murray
Why Optometry: Saif became interested in optometry when he was young. He always had the passion to alleviate the lives of those in need, and especially to help people that don’t necessarily have the same opportunities he was given. Optometry fascinates his science based brain, and combines his love for lifelong learning and patient centered care.
Riley parker
Undergraduate Studies: Drury University
Scholarship Received: Robert & Frances Friar Annual Scholarship – Excellence in Optometry Award
Why Optometry: Riley Became interested in optometry because it has been a big part of her life in different subtle ways. Ocular disease has been an interesting aspect for her and her family. Interestingly, her parents met because they were contact lens sales reps. She has always known that she is supposed to be an advocate for patients in the health care world. She wants to have a profession where she can have a family and a flexible work life.
Brooke bradley
Undergraduate Studies: Ferris State University 3+1
Scholarship Received: Robert & Frances Friar Annual Scholarship – Excellence in Optometry Award
Why Optometry: Riley became interested in optometry her junior year of high school after taking a career matching quiz. Her top match was optometry where she then shadowed some optometrists and really enjoyed those experiences. She wanted to dive into the profession from there.