VSP Vision News

Meet the 2023 Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award Winners

VSP Vision™ is proud to continue supporting the Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Awards in partnership with the National Optometric Association (NOA). This prestigious award is named in celebration of Dr. Poston, the first Black American licensed to practice optometry on the west coast, a founding member of VSP®, and a trailblazer in the optometry field.

A total of five scholarships were awarded to a first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year optometry student, and one member of the National Optometric Student Association Executive Board. Meet the 2023 Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award recipients:

  1. Khaliah Knighten, Class of 2026, Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
  2. Babirekere Bakama, Class of 2025, Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
  3. Laura Medina, Class of 2024, State University of New York College of Optometry
  4. Daniele Ewert, Class of 2023, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
  5. Isa Prude, Class of 2024, NOVA Southeastern University College of Optometry

The winners were chosen because they embody Dr. Poston’s commitment to leadership, service, and diversity. Each recipient received a $4,000 scholarship and was honored at the 2023 NOA Convention in Fort Lauderdale, FL on July 7.

Over the last 10 years, VSP® has provided more than $3 million in scholarship support to optometry students. Learn more about how VSP is supporting the next generation of optometrists here.