Essilor and AOA To Award Grants

Essilor of America has again partnered with the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) to continue the Essilor Optical Technology Grants program, now in its 10th year. The program will award three $20,000 grants to optometry schools for projects intended to elevate the standards and visibility of ophthalmic dispensing to students and patients in the training environment.

In 1,000 words or less, applicants must state how the grant could be used to further their educational program. All applications will be judged on the school’s commitment to the growth of premium optical technology, ingenuity, 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 from Essilor, convened by the American Optometric Foundation, will judge the applications. The grant recipients will be announced on Oct. 15, 2011 at the AOF Celebration Luncheon during the American Academy of Optometry’s Annual Meeting in Boston.

Applications must be submitted by email to aof@aaoptom.org. Each school or college of optometry can submit one application, which must be endorsed by the dean or president of the school or college. The deadline for applications is Sept. 2, 2011.

To be considered for future technology grants, recipients must also submit a written 500-word progress report by June 30, 2012. The Essilor Optical Technology Grant program is intended for North American Institutions. No institution will receive a grant two years in a row.

For more details, visit the Essilor Optical Technology Grants Web page at http://www.aaopt.org/aof/scholarship/essilor or email aof@aaoptom.org.