RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - VSP Vision^™, in partnership with the Heart of America Eye Care Congress, announced John Luder, a fourth-year student at University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry, has been selected as the 2026 Dr. Frank D. Fontana Memorial Scholarship recipient.

In his winning essay, Luder reflected on the principles that guide his approach to patient care: "Dr. Fontana inspires me to continue to research and learn new clinical methods to not only improve the vision and quality of life of my future patients but also pave the way for the next generation," he wrote. "I plan to build my career, incorporating the values and clinical expertise optometrists like Dr. Fontana have displayed for decades, and I plan to give back through community outreach and advocacy for this profession."

The scholarship honors Dr. Frank D. Fontana, affectionately known across the eye care community as "Uncle Frank." A respected clinician and beloved mentor, Dr. Fontana practiced optometry for nearly 70 years and was known for his deep commitment to patients, colleagues, and the advancement of the profession.

The Fontana Memorial Scholarship is open to third- and fourth-year optometry students who are actively engaged in patient care and either reside in Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, or Missouri, or attend the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry or Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

John received a $4,250 scholarship and a $750 travel grant to attend Heart of America's Eye Care Congress Conference in Kansas City held on Feb. 20-22. He was selected for exemplifying excellence in the four qualities Dr. Fontana embodied:

• Outstanding clinical performance
• Empathetic patient care
• Embracing modern technologies
• Active involvement in the optometric community

"John exemplifies the spirit of clinical excellence, compassion, and innovation that defined Uncle Frank's career," said Michelle Skinner, Chief Provider Solutions Officer at VSP Vision. "We congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the meaningful impact he will make on patient care and the future of optometry."

To date, VSP Vision has provided more than $4 million in scholarships and grant support 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 4.3 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.