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SCCO Scholarship Opportunities

Through the generosity of our alumni and benefactors, SCCO students annually receive more than $400,000 in scholarships and awards. 

There are two main categories of scholarships for optometry students, each with its own set of deadlines, conditions, and application processes. All incoming and current students regardless of citizenship status are eligible to receive multiple awards from various categories.

Incoming Students: scholarships are awarded during the admissions process to highly competitive applicants. While scholarship recipients are typically notified along with their acceptance offer, scholarship notifications may be made anytime prior to the start of school. Applicants who receive an interview invitation will have the opportunity to apply to be considered for a scholarship and identify which ones they may be eligible for. Admissions scholarships are a one-time award applied to the first year of tuition and are non-renewable.

For current students: for all enrolled students, applications are made available by the Dean’s office during the fall academic term. Scholarship awardees are notified as part of the Fall Awards Ceremony which typically takes place in October or November each year. Students who receive incoming student scholarships are eligible to apply for and receive these scholarships as well.

Highly Competitive Applicants

Awarded to applicants during the admissions cycle, these scholarships are given to incoming students whose academic qualifications excel. 

  • Drs. Fred and Betty Chelf Memorial Scholarships - historically scholarships have been from $5,000 to $25,000 each
  • Lenard W. and Nelda O. Sledge Scholarships - historically scholarships have been from $2,000 to $10,000 each
  • The Presidential Scholarships -historically scholarships have been from $5,000 to $10,000 each
  • Various other Scholarships - historically scholarships have been from $5,000 to $10,000 each

Diversity

 Primarily awarded to applicants during the admissions cycle to cultivate diversity in the student body.

  • Black Student Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,600 each
  • Dr. Reynaldo J. Carreon, Jr. Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $3,000-$6,000 each
  • Hispanic Student Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $3,000 each

Academic Excellence

Awarded for academic excellence to students from all 4 years.

  • Alumni Association of Marshall B. Ketchum University Scholarships in Honor of Leslie W. Scown, OD - historically several scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,000-$5,000 each
  • Joseph L. Bruneni Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Dr. Herbert McCracken Dixon Scholarships - historically scholarships have been from $5,000 to $20,000 each
  • Dr. Howard Preston Memorial Scholarship (South Bay Optometric Society) - historically scholarship has been around $1,600
  • Vision for Excellence Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,000 each
  • Vision for Excellence Grants - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,900 each
  • Dr. Lorraine Voorhees Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,600
  • VSP and AAOF Practice Excellence Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $3,250 each

Clinical Excellence

Awarded for clinical excellence to third and fourth year students.

  • Dr. Charles A. Abel Memorial Scholarship -  historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,300 each
  • Alvin Applebaum Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,300
  • Dr. Frank A. Brazelton Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,000 each
  • J. Pat Cummings Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
  • Adam E. and Marguerite E. Diehl Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,500
  • Dr. Joe W. Dobbs Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,700 each
  • Dr. John R. Griffin Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,900
  • Dr. Richard L. Hopping Ethics Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around$2,800 each
  • Dr. Cecil B. Kohake, ′77, Scholarship -  historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Dr. Bertram L. Roberts Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Dr. Takao Shishino Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,500 each
  • Southwest Contact Lens Society Endowed Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,700

Leadership

Awarded for leadership on and off campus to students from all 4 years.

  • Drs. Kevin and Carol Alexander Leadership Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,800
  • California Optometric Council Achievement Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,700
  • George I. Deane Jr., OD Memorial Student Leadership Award - travel grant to COA House of Delegates
  • Great Western Council of Optometry Scholarship (GWCO) - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
  • Healthy Eyes Advantage (HEA) Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $3,000
  • Dr. Donald E. Jarnagin Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,100
  • Kristin A. Jones Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,900 each
  • The Drs. Mallinger Family Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,500
  • Optic Gallery Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $500
  • Sheryl Potter Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $500
  • Dr. Geraldine J. Sherman Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,600

Community Service

Awarded for community service to second, third and fourth year students.

  • Dr. William Brisbane Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,300
  • Dr. Jeffery Garcia Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,500
  • William E. Langston Sports Vision Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,000 each
  • “Missio Dei” Service Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,900

Financial Need

Awarded to students with financial need from all 4 years.

  • Dr. Louis Ash Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Juliet E. Hardtner/ Blake Family Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,000 each
  • Marjorie H. Bright Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Dr. Vincent and Nina Conlan Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $3,200
  • Dr. Leon Darrow Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,100 each
  • Dr. Clifford M. Harn, '20 Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • William E. Heaton Jr. Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,400
  • Betty Lou Hoeft Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $2,000
  • Woody and Dorotha Jarnagin Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,000-$10,000 each
  • Dr. Warren Harvard Low, '52, Endowed Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,000-$6,000 each
  • Dr. Homer A. Nelson Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,200 each
  • Dr. Erwin A. Rader Memorial Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,200 each
  • Rio Hondo Optometric Society Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $400
  • Stephen Sokol Rio Hondo Optometric Society Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $400
  • Dr. Martin A. Robin Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
  • Vincent Salierno Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $3,000
  • Michael R. Sellers, O.D., '78, and Stephanie E. Sellers Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $1,000 each
  • Harold M. Uhrich, Jr. and Shirley J. Uhrich Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
  • Robert K. Vinyard Memorial Scholarship - historically scholarship has been around $1,500
  • VSP Global Arizona Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,800 each
  • Dr. Louis and Marcia Zabner Scholarships - historically a few scholarships have been awarded and are around $2,100 each

    Senior Awards

    Awarded to members of the graduating class.

    • Alcon Excellence Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
    • Asian American Optometric Society Award in Honor of Dr. Art Sugino - historically scholarship has been around $1,400
    • Asian American Optometric Society Award in Honor of Dr. Rodger Kame - historically scholarship has been around  $1,400
    • Asian American Optometric Society Award in Honor of Dr. William Yamamoto - historically scholarship has been around $1,400
    • Richard W. Baker, OD, '64 Contact Lens Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,300
    • Dr. Morris Berman Clinical Excellence Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,500
    • Council of Regents Achievement Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
    • Dr. Al Dennis Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
    • Dr. Lawrence E. Gallarini Memorial Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
    • Dr. John R. Griffin Memorial Award -historically scholarship has been around $500
    • Dr. Homer & Marie Hendrickson Memorial Awards - historically scholarship has been around $1,100 each
    • Johnson & Johnson Vision Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care - historically scholarship has been around $500
    • Dr. Rodger Kame Memorial Award - historically scholarship has been around $2,100
    • Kiwanis Low Vision Rehabilitation Award - historically scholarship has been around $800
    • Dr. K. Michael Larkin Memorial Award -historically scholarship has been around $2,500
    • Dr. Harue J. Marsden Memorial Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
    • Nick Meneakis Memorial Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,700
    • Orange Country Optometric Scholarship Award in Honor of Dr. Richard Hopping - historically scholarship has been around $1,200
    • Hedda Jaanus Podrang Memorial Award - historically scholarship has been around $2,700
    • Visionary Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,000
    • Dr. Les Walls Valedictorian Award - historically scholarship has been around $2,000
    • Dr. Ryan P. Zamanigan Memorial Travel Support Award - historically scholarship has been around $1,200

    Outside Foundations, Organized Optometry and Industry Supported Awards

    In addition to the above awards, SCCO receives annual donations for one-time scholarships and awards. Various outside optometric organizations offer over $10,000 in support of students' multiple scholarship awards.