AOA Foundation Optometry Cares, the AOA Foundation, the charitable organization of the American Optometric Association, calls upon fourth-year optometry students to apply for the Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings Scholarship, which is worth $5,000.
The scholarship is in memory of AOA past president Pat Cummings, O.D., who had a love for volunteering in his profession and making a positive impact in the community.
Among many acts of philanthropy, Dr. Cummings was one of the first supporters of the InfantSEE program, which helps provide no-cost eye examinations for children during their first year of life.
The Cummings family faced terrible loss when Dr. Cummings died July 11, 2009 in a private plane crash. In a separate tragedy, his son, Patrick, passed away in a car accident at age 18.
In tribute to father and son, the Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings Memorial Fund was established through Optometry Cares. This opportunity was generously funded by numerous individual donors, as well as a large contribution from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care.
Among other qualifications, to be eligible for the Dr. Pat & Patrick Cummings Scholarship, a student must obtain one letter of recommendation from a teacher, dean or academic advisor, and submit an essay that answers the following questions:
Dr. Pat Cummings was passionate about improving the overall health of the public. How do you exemplify this passion and what are your goals in the area of public health?
Do you plan to take a leadership role in optometry? Please tell us about leadership roles you have had in optometry school and your future leadership goals.
Students must check with the student affairs office to determine the institution’s on-campus deadline. Each school and college will choose one candidate from all applications received by their on-campus deadline and forward the individual’s name and essay to Optometry Cares by November 11, 2014. The winner will be announced in January 2015.