Vincent Salierno was born in 1903 in Magliano Italy. From humble immigrant beginnings he established a successful optical company in Newark, NJ called Victory Optical Manufacturing Company in 1941, and grew it to be a respected leader in the optical industry. Throughout his life, Vincent, known to his friends and family as Jimmy, was a generous and loved man. He supported an orphanage, a hospital, and a church in his place of birth.

Vincent was also on the Board of Directors of the Columbus Hospital in New Jersey. His family valued and continued his philanthropy and after his death in January 1973, his widow Rose established the Vincent Salierno Scholarship Fund with the American Optometric Foundation to provide scholarships to students in the field of optometry. Over the past thirty years over one hundred scholarships have been awarded.

Award
Each recipient will be eligible to retain their award till graduation provided they successfully maintain the required academic standard to renew their Vincent Salierno Scholarship. Between two and five scholarships of $1,500 are awarded for each academic year. The Foundation will contact eligible institutions based on the rotation schedule below.

Eligibility
A first year student pursuing a Doctorate of Optometry degree is nominated by his/her institution for this scholarship. Second, third, and fourth year students of optometry enrolled in a full-time course of study are also eligible, but they must have a 3.0 (“B”) average for all course work taken thus far in optometry school. The Vincent Salierno Scholarship is eligible for automatic renewal provided that the recipient maintains a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and is enrolled in a full-time course of study leading to a Doctorate of Optometry degree.

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