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The Vincent Salierno Scholarship
Background
Vincent Salierno was born in 1903 in Magliano Italy. From humble immigrant beginnings he established a successful optical company in Newark, Victory Optical Manufacturing Company in 1941, and grew to be a respected leader in the optical industry. Throughout his life, Vincent, known to his friends and family as Jimmy, was a generous and loved man. He supported an orphanage, a hospital, and a church in his place of birth. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Columbus Hospital in New Jersey. His family valued and continued his philanthropy and after his death in January 1973, his widow Rose established the Vincent Salierno Scholarship Fund with the American Optometric Foundation to provide scholarships to students in the field of optometry. Over the past thirty years over one hundred scholarships have been awarded.
Award
The Foundation and the Salierno Family are pleased to announce that Adam T. Gorner, Pacific University College of Optometry, and Mary Alice Saluke-Portillo, New England College of Optometry, have successfully maintained the required academic standard to renew their Vincent Salierno Scholarship for 2009.
Between two and five scholarships of $1,500 will be awarded for the 2010 academic year. The Foundation will contact eligible institutions based on the rotation schedule below.
Eligibility
A first year student pursuing a Doctorate of Optometry degree is nominated by his/her institution for this scholarship. Second, third, and fourth year students of optometry enrolled in a full-time course of study are also eligible, but they must have a 3.0 (“B”) average for all course work taken thus far in optometry school. The Vincent Salierno Scholarship is eligible for automatic renewal provided that the recipient maintains a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and is enrolled in a full-time course of study leading to a Doctorate of Optometry degree.
Application and Review Procedures
The AOF informs the schools designated for the current year's program that it may seek candidates. One student will be chosen by the appropriate scholarship and awards committee of the selected school, using their own judgment based on the criteria stated in this paragraph. The Vincent Salierno Scholarship is intended for a student who has extraordinary financial needs and would otherwise be hard pressed, if not incapable, of meeting the financial requirements of attending optometry school. Therefore, financial need is the primary criteria for selection. In making the selection of a recipient, the awarding school may not use any criteria other than financial need and secondarily academic progress and/or potential in its decision.
Continuing Eligibility
Every Vincent Salierno Scholarship recipient shall continue to receive the annual award so long as he/she maintains a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and is enrolled in a full-time course of study leading to a Doctorate of Optometry degree. Continuing eligibility shall be determined annually.
Rotation Schedule
The following rotation cycle may be altered by the Foundation Board:
Indiana University, School of Optometry
University of California, School of Optometry
University of Waterloo, School of Optometry
Universite de Montreal, Ecole d’optometrie
The Ohio State University, College of Optometry
State University of New York, College of Optometry
University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry
University of Missouri, College of Optometry
Northeastern State University, College of Optometry
Inter-American University, School of Optometry
Southern College of Optometry
Illinois College of Optometry
Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Ferris State University, College of Optometry
NOVA/Southeastern University, College of Optometry
Southern California College of Optometry
University of Houston, College of Optometry
New England College of Optometry
Pacific University, School of Optometry
Midwestern University, Arizona College of Optometry
University of the Incarnate Word School of Optometry
Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
