Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation
For over 50 years, the Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation has continued to recognize ongoing exceptional talent and support future leaders in optometry.
Congratulations 2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients!
- John Adegoke - SALUS at Drexel University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Aishwarya Arumugam - SUNY College of Optometry
- Kaelin Conover - SALUS at Drexel University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Alexander Donlon - SALUS at Drexel University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Anabel Ferraro - SUNY College of Optometry
- Dina Gad - SUNY College of Optometry
- Annette Kretov - The College of Optometry at The Ohio State University
- Karaan Raj Kothari - SALUS at Drexel University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Anjali Patel - SALUS at Drexel University/ Pennsylvania College of Optometry
- Rafael Sampaio - SUNY College of Optometry
- Lorenzo Stampone - SUNY College of Optometry
- Anny Shi - SUNY College of Optometry
- Andrew Vanacore - The College of Optometry at The Ohio State University
Meet Some of the 2025-2026 Recipients
View Past Scholarship Awardees.
Purpose Statement
For over 50 years, the Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation has continued to recognize ongoing exceptional talent and support future leaders in optometry. Historically, the scholarship is awarded annually to students of optometry who possess academic excellence, financial need, and the desire to serve the profession of optometry in New Jersey as did Dr. Leslie Mintz.
The Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation's vision is to ensure that New Jersey is building strong and supportive professional connections with future eye health and vision care leaders, so that they may improve the state's health equity and access to care needs. Annual scholarship distribution is based on viable applicants, number of applicant submissions, and the health of the scholarship endowment fund.
100% of the scholarship recipients reflect the current, diverse populations entering the profession to serve the public. Diversity of the recipients includes diverse backgrounds, desired practice modalities and specialties, and connections to New Jersey rural, suburban, and urban communities.
100% of the scholarship recipients maintain a strong school transcript and express their intention to work in New Jersey.
Over 50% of the scholarship recipients ultimately select New Jersey as their professional home and service our New Jersey residents with quality eye health and vision care, with many more having spent part of their career in New Jersey.
30% of the scholarship recipients, since its inception, have gone on to become educators of the profession by working as faculty, publishing papers, and/or become leaders in the profession of Optometry, both in New Jersey and nationally.
The Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Board of Directors
Dr. Paul Neiheiser, Chair
Dr. Maria Richman, Treasurer
Sharon Kais, Secretary
Dr. Daniel Desrivieres
Dr. David Kong
Dr. Stephanie Hwang
Dr. Vittorio Mena, Jr.
Dr. Talia Mishkin
Dr. Rodolfo Rodriguez
Dr. Leonard Steiner
Dr. Edward Campbell , Emeritus
Scholarship Application Process
Your Support is Needed and Greatly Appreciated!
Click here to make a donation today!
The Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation is incorporated in New Jersey and is recognized as a IRC 501(c) (3) organization and all donations, less any goods and services received, may be tax deductible for you. Consult with your financial advisors to learn more.
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Learn more about optometrists, find a doctor, and access expert eye health and vision information.
