VSP Vision Announces Winner of Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - VSP Vision^™, in collaboration with the Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN), announced today that Mason Martin is the winner of the 2026 Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship, powered by PECAA.

Martin is the first first-year student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry to receive this honor. His standout submission featured a thoughtful patient-centered private practice business plan. He was awarded the $10,000 scholarship and a travel grant to attend the SOLN conference in Denver.

"This experience challenged me to think more intentionally about the future of private practice and reinforced the importance of keeping patient-centered care at the heart of everything we do," said Martin. "I'm incredibly honored to receive the Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship and grateful to VSP Vision, PECAA, and the Student Optometric Leadership Network for this opportunity."

Runners up, Danaka Howard Batek from Pacific University College of Optometry and Sarah Mitchell from the University of Houston College of Optometry, each received a $5,000 scholarship and travel grants to the SOLN conference.

"We're committed to supporting the next generation of optometrists on their path to private practice, and the Propel Student Business Challenge Scholarship is one of the ways we help bring that to life," said Michelle Skinner, Chief Provider Solutions Officer at VSP Vision. "Mason's exceptional business plan really set him apart and we congratulate him on this well-deserved award."

To date, VSP Vision has provided more than $4.3 million in scholarships to optometry students. To learn more about 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.