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The Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation
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(s) 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.
2023 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. Edward Campbell, Emeritus
Scholarship Application Process
The deadline for each year's Dr. Leslie Mintz Scholarship Foundation applications is January 15th. All required scholarship documents can be emailed to Edna McKinney (emckinney@njsop.org ) or mailed to the NJSOP’s office at 4 AAA Drive, Suite 204 Hamilton, NJ 08691
View the scholarship rules and requirements
Complete the online scholarship application
Click here to download and print the Scholarship Application
Congratulations to the 2022- 2023 Scholarship Recipients!
Sophia Johnson (SUNY)
Ewa Kowalczyk (SUNY)
Renee Pogrebneak (SALUS)
Gabrielle Tull-Lewis (SALUS)
Alexa Vardiman (SALUS)
Fatima Bhatti (NECO)
Veena Bokka (SUNY)
Daniel Parrotta (NOVA)
Menatolla Soliman (MCPHS)
Manisha Talwar (SALUS)
Zarin Anjum (SALUS)
Judith Cohen Moyal (SALUS)
Viral Shah (SALUS)
Morgon VonSchmidt (SALUS)
Meet Some of the 2022-2023 Students!
Your Support is Needed and Greatly Appreciated!
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.
Past Scholarship Winners
2021-2022Daniel Parrotta (NOVA) 2021-2022 Mintz Testimonials from some of our past recipients. | 2020-2021Krista Kaspar (Salus) | 2019-2020Kimberly Cheng (NECO) |
2018-2019Jessica Serra (SUNY) | 2017-2018Hannah Canuto (SUNY) | 2016-2017Kimberly Hentges (Salus) |
2015-2016Christina Benn (NECO) | 2014-2015Janine Disanti (Salus) | 2013-2014Natasha Balani (Arizona) |
2012-2013Colleen Dye (SUNY) | 2011-2012Jessica Haake (NECO) | 2010-2011Diana Espaillat (PCO) |
2009-2010Nazmul Hasan (SUNY) | 2008-2009Daniel Baruffi (PCO) | 2007-2008Christopher Caldwell (SUNY) |
2006-2007Christopher Caldwell (SUNY) | 2005-2006Mayur Bhavsar (SUNY) | 2004-2005Jesus Barrios (PCO) |
2003-2004Hina Parveen (PCO) | 2002-2003Nisha Patel (PCO) | 2001-2002Nisha Patel (PCO) |
2000-2001Rosemary Frasco (PCO) | 1999-2000Colleen Burns (PCO) | 1997-1998Colleen Burns (PCO) |
1996-1997Bethany Bernstein (NECO) | 1995-1996Brian Cohen (PCO) | 1994-1995William Ferrence (PCO) |
1993-1994Maureen McCleery (SUNY) | 1992-1993Stanley Anton (NECO) | 1991-1992Gregory Schultz (PCO) |
1990-1991Stanley Anton (NECO) | 1989-1990Cynthia Sprauer (PCO) | 1988-1989Barry Kowalik (NECO) |
1987-1988Barry Kowalik (NECO) | 1986-1987Cynthia Han (PCO) | 1985-1986Thomas Weshefsky (PCO) |
1984-1985Thomas Weshefsky (PCO) | 1982-1983Gabriel Colon (PCO) | 1981-1982Matthew Kelleman (PCO) |
1980-1981Gabriel Colon (PCO) | 1979-1980Alice Bade (PCO) | 1978-1979Ken Andronico (PCO) |
1977-1978Paul Grala (NECO) | 1976-1977Paul Grala (Mass) | 1975-1976Ray Tarantula (PCO) |
1974-1975John Chu (SUNY) | 1973-1974Kurt Rommel (Pacific) | 1972-1973Mark Strum (PCO) |
