Scholarship applications will be open from April 1st to May 1st each year for awards made that following academic year.
The UAB School of Optometry offers scholarships and awards that provide financial support for our outstanding Optometry students. Currently, the School has 56 endowed optometry scholarships which were generously given by alumni and friends of the School of Optometry. Some scholarships provide multiple awards. Most awards range in value between $500 and $1500 each, though there are exceptions that have higher award amounts.
Be assured that the Scholarship Committee will show understanding and flexibility when evaluating your academic record for scholarship consideration during the semesters affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The Pass/Fail grading scale used for courses will be accepted if an applicant has chosen to utilize it. Ultimately the Scholarship Committee remains committed to ensuring the best and brightest students receive the support they deserve using a holistic assessment process.
All scholarship applications must be submitted through the UAB BSMART System. The scholarship application deadline is May 31st of each year. Awards will be posted to student accounts at the beginning of the fall semester.
Below are the scholarship qualifications:
- Applicants must be admitted and have paid their deposit or be enrolled in the UAB School of Optometry.
- All scholarships require at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for all coursework; incoming students MUST use the undergraduate GPA they submitted with their application.
- Applicants are required to submit a resume showcasing their extracurricular activities, their job and/or volunteer experience, and their leadership involvement.
- Applicants are required to submit a one-page essay explaining why they are deserving of a scholarship award. Please use this space to list any relevant stories, special experiences, extenuating circumstances, or challenges.
In addition to applying for these scholarships, all applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid through the UAB Financial Aid Office in order to be considered for financing assistance, federal loans, and need-based scholarships.
For additional information about the scholarship process, please contact:
Jakobe Perry
Endowed Scholarship Opportunities
The School of Optometry is grateful for the generous support of our alumni and friends for providing the following Scholarships:
The Abel Family Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Abraham Azman Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Aharon Sternberg Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Arol Augsburger, O.D. Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Birmingham Area Optometric Society Endowed Optometry Award Fund
The Bob and Hulene Crosby Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Clark F. Amos Endowed Optometry Presidential Scholarship
The Day Family Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Douglas & Connie Clark Endowed Optometry Leadership Scholarship
The Dr. Bradford W. Wild Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Catherine S. Amos Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Charles A “Scotty” McCallum Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. E.C. Overton Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Elbert A. (Bert) Coshatt / Alumni Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Ernest DeBakey Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Jess Boyd Eskridge / UABSO Alumni Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Jimmy Bartlett Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Kristine Hopkins Vision Therapy Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. L. Don Snellgrove Endowed Scholarship in Optometry
The Dr. Lester Caplan / CIBA Vision Corporation Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Dr. Terrence N. Ingraham Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Paul S. Worrell Endowed Memorial Optometry Scholarship
The Drs. Debi & Rod Nowakowski Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Drs. James & Robin Marbourg Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Drs. John and Catherine Amos Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Edgar M. Warr Endowed Alumni Scholarship
The Energen / Alagasco Endowed Scholarship
The Essilor of America Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Eydie C. Jones Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Faculty of Optometry and Vision Sciences Student Optometry Scholarship Endowment
The Florence Lions Club Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Fredric and Marion Rosemore Family Foundation Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Helen and David Bunkin Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Heersink Family Foundation Scholarship in Optometry
The Heersink Family Optometric Scholarship Endowment in Optometry
The Henry B. Peters Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The HOYA Vision Care Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The John & Jeanne Classe’ Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The John A. Williamson Endowed Scholarship in the School of Optometry
The Lee Dickerson Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Luxottica Eye Care Student Leadership Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Marin & Rita Gaffney Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The New Orleans Contact Lens Society Scholarship (2)
The Richard B. Booth Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Robert and Judy Rutstein Binocular Vision Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Sara Fran Hanan Endowed Award Fund for Low Vision
The Schaeffer Eye Center Endowed Award Fund
The SECO International Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The SECO University Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Smith-Hammonds Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Southern Council of Optometrists Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Sylvia D. Worrell Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Vision Care Institute Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Whitewater Creek Symposia Endowed Optometry Scholarship
The Zeiss Endowed Optometry Scholarship