ORLANDO, Fla.—The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) has announced the recipients of the 2021 AAOF Student Giving Matching Travel Grants. The program was initiated in 2014 to create “a climate of giving back to the profession and promoting involvement in Academy chapters at North American schools and colleges of optometry,” according to the AAOF announcement late last week. Each school raised the funds, and the money is being matched with a travel grant opportunity for each student to attend Academy 2021 Boston, which will be held Nov. 3 through 6 in Boston.

The 2021 grant recipients and the participating institutions are:

  • Alek Karthikeyan, Illinois College of Optometry
     
  • Andrea Meagher, Illinois College of Optometry
     
  • Noa Robson, Indiana University School of Optometry
     
  • Erica Tharp, Indiana University School of Optometry
     
  • Ameerah Al-Sadi, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
     
  • Jenna Dougherty, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
     
  • Nathan Kuykendall, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
     
  • Kevin Struble, Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
     
  • Amanda Aker, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
     
  • Brianna Herring, Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
     
  • Leah Hazen, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
     
  • Allison Neuhaus, The Ohio State University College of Optometry
     
  • Raisa Ahmed, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
     
  • Jennifer Liu, Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University
     
  • Rebecca Hung, State University of New York College of Optometry
     
  • Michelle Kim, State University of New York College of Optometry
     
  • Sara Ahdoot, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
     
  • Cade Oost, Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
     
  • Brooke Hubbard, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry

  • Tiffany Jones, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
     
  • Anna Lorino, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
     
  • Darian Travis, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry
     
  • Gabrielle Ault, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
     
  • Jessica Johnson, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
     
  • Ashley Richmond, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
     
  • Cydney Roberts, University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry
     
  • Jacqueline Bongard, University of Missouri—St. Louis College of Optometry
     
  • Katie Kyles, University of Missouri—St. Louis College of Optometry
     
  • Maria Habib, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
     
  • Mikala Herr, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
     
  • Samantha Carrillo, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
     
  • Crystal Sin, Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry
The American Academy of Optometry Foundation (AAOF) is the 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of the American Academy of Optometry. It was founded in 1947 for the “upholding, broadening, fostering, promoting and aiding of optometric education; the profession of optometry and its practitioners.”