VSP Vision News

VSP Vision News

Meet the 2025 Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award Winners

VSP Vision™, in partnership with the National Optometric Association (NOA), proudly recognizes five outstanding optometry students for the 2025 Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award. Each winner received a $4,000 scholarship and was celebrated at the 2025 NOA Convention in July. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Winners 

• Alyssa Buchanan—Kentucky College of Optometry, Class of 2028
• Melanie Carrión—Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry, Class of 2027
• Malia McDowell—University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry, Class of 2026
• Dominica Dzakah—Drexel University, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Class of 2025
• Angelica Moss—Indiana University School of Optometry, Class of 2027 

About the Scholarship 

Named after Dr. Marvin R. Poston—the first Black optometrist on the West Coast and VSP Vision co-founder—this scholarship celebrates students who embody his commitment to leadership, service, and diversity. 

To qualify, students must: 

• Be active members of the National Optometric Student Association
• Submit a short video sharing their journey and vision for private practice
• Demonstrate leadership and a strong commitment to the profession 

To date, VSP has awarded $4 million in scholarships to nearly 1,200 optometry students, with 70 more planned for 2025. These investments reflect VSP’s ongoing commitment to help the next generation of optometrists by delivering support, value, and stability for the profession every step of the way. Learn more at vspproviderhub.com/scholarships