SCCO Scholarship Opportunities | Marshall B. Ketchum University

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.