Company Press Releases > People & Purpose > Scholarships > Five Optometry Students Receive Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award from VSP Vision
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – VSP Vision™ has named five optometry students as recipients of the 2026 Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award, presented in partnership with the National Optometric Association (NOA). Announced during the NOA Annual Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, the awards celebrate the next generation of optometric leaders committed to expanding access to eye care.
One of the more than 70 scholarships VSP Vision offers annually, the Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award honors the legacy of Dr. Poston, the first Black optometrist on the West Coast and a co-founder of VSP Vision. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional leadership, a passion for community service, and a willingness to pursue employment in a private practice setting that can help close the gap in eye care services in underserved communities. Each recipient receives a $4,000 scholarship to support their optometric education.
Representing five schools of optometry across the country, the recipients have demonstrated leadership through community outreach, patient advocacy, mentorship, and service initiatives that expand access to vision care. The 2026 recipients are:
“Dr. Poston understood the importance of providing care and serving his community to deliver lasting change," said Marvin Davenport, Chief Inclusion Officer at VSP Vision. "This year's award recipients reflect his example and are another proof point that the future of optometry is bright. We congratulate these five outstanding students and are proud to continue doubling down on our support of and investment in the next generation of optometric leaders."
In recognition of the spirit of service embodied by Dr. Poston’s legacy and this year’s scholarship recipients, VSP Vision and the NOA kicked off the 2026 convention in service by hosting a VSP Eyes of Hope® mobile clinic, providing free eye exams and prescription eyewear to St. Louis residents in need.
To date, VSP Vision has provided more than $4.3 million in scholarships to nearly 1,300 optometry students. To learn more about VSP Vision’s scholarship opportunities, visit: https://www.vspproviderhub.com/scholarships.html
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About VSP Vision At VSP Vision™, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For 70 years, VSP® has been a leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses across vision benefits, eye care services, eyewear solutions, and practice solutions, work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for millions of members through a network of more than 44,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Eyes of Hope®. To date, more than 4.5 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we're reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.