Travel Grant Opportunities
Looking for grant opportunities to participate in Optometry's Meeting? Each year, optometry students can apply for an array of grants to help attend the annual AOSA meeting. Find more information about grant opportunities and eligibility criteria below.
Student travel grant opportunities to Optometry's Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry are made possible by our partners. Please note the specific requirements, eligibility and deadlines for each grant. New travel grant opportunities that become available will be listed below for students' reference—be sure to check back frequently for updates.
Win a $1,000 Travel Grant from the Optometry Retina Society
Tell us what everyday advocacy for optometry means to you for a chance to win a $1,000 travel grant to attend Optometry's Meeting, June 25-28, in Minneapolis. The AOSA received a special, one-time contribution from the Optometric Retina Society—and AOSA is using it to bring students together for the future of our profession.
What is Everyday Advocacy?
Advocacy in optometry often refers to legislative efforts—whether at the federal level, where the AOA fights for optometrists' rights to practice full-scope optometry, or at the state level, where we monitor laws, vision benefit plans abuses, and discriminatory policies, such as “not a doctor” legislation.
But advocacy goes beyond legislation. Everyday Advocacy happens in your daily interactions—with your patients, your community, and even your family and friends. It’s about educating others on the importance of optometry and the critical role of doctors of optometry in healthcare.
How to Enter
Submit of the following for a chance to win:
- A short paragraph (100 words or less) describing your ideal approach to advocating for the optometric profession.
- A video (one minute or less) demonstrating "Everyday Advocacy" in action.
Prizes
Ten winners will receive a $1,000 travel grant to Optometry’s Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry in Minneapolis.
Eligibility
Must be a student enrolled at an ACOE-accredited school or college of optometry and a member of the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA).
Judging & Selection
A panel from the AOSA Board of Trustees will evaluate all submissions. To ensure a fair selection process, participant identities will remain confidential during judging.
Deadline to Enter
March 31, 2025
Win a $1,000 Travel Grant from CooperVision
Are you an optometry student graduating in 2025, looking for a travel grant to Optometry's Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry? Here's how you can enter to win a $1,000 travel grant from CooperVision.
How to Enter
Register for the ECP Viewpoints and submit this form.
Prizes
Five winners will receive a $1,000 travel grant to Optometry's Meeting | 5th World Congress of Optometry in Minneapolis.
Eligibility
Must be an optometry student in good standing with the AOSA; must be an optometry student in good academic standing at any optometry school or college; must be in the 2025 graduating class; must agree to all uses/rights by AOA and AOSA.
Deadline to Enter
March 31, 2025
Looking for ways to earn money at Optometry's Meeting?
Travel grants aren't the only way for optometry students to fund your way to the annual AOSA / AOA meeting. Consider the following paid opportunities that give you a chance to attend the student programming at Optometry's Meeting but still earn money at the same time:
- Become a CE Monitor. Serving as a CE Monitor, even for the minimum half-day requirement at $20 per hour, can cover your entire student or resident early-bird registration rate. But this is more than a job: this is your backstage pass to professional growth, connections and unforgettable experiences in the world of optometry.
