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Winning a scholarship is pretty exciting. But being awarded the same scholarship two years in a row is an off-the-charts thrill.
One that Dominica Dzakah, OD ‘25, recently experienced when she was informed that she once again had won the Dr. Marvin R. Poston Leadership Award.
“I was very excited,” said Dr. Dzakah. “I applied for the scholarship again because the topic is about leadership and community service and I’m very passionate about both.”
Dr. Dzakah earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in sociology from the University of Texas at Dallas. She then entered the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University, now Drexel University, Elkins Park Campus, to earn her doctorate and develop her leadership skills.
VSP Vision and the National Optometric Association (NOA) recognize students each year with the Poston Leadership Award. Named after the trailblazing optometrist, the award is presented annually to current National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) members who uphold Dr. Poston’s commitment to leadership, service and diversity. The recipients were honored during the NOA convention in July in Columbus, Ohio, and each student received a $4,000 scholarship.
“Dr. Poston created a pathway for black optometrists,” said Dr. Dzakah, who served on the national board of NOA during her time at PCO and also participated in the Robert E. Horne Summer Enrichment Program. “I was able to develop some leadership skills during my time at PCO.”
Dr. Poston was named Optometrist of the Year by the American Optometric Association (AOA) in 1961 and the California Optometric Association bestowed the same honor in 1972. It was the first time either association recognized a Black American with optometrist of the year laurels. As the only Black American who co-founded VSP Vision in 1955, then named California Vision Services, Dr. Poston was a champion for eye care and eye health.
In 2019, the Dr. Marvin R. Poston Foundation, NOA and VSP Vision established the Visioning the Future mentorship program, a strategy designed to identify African and Black American students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and foster their professional and career advancement in the profession of optometry. Last summer, Dr. Poston was posthumously inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame.
**Drexel University provides information about external scholarships and awards to help its students pursue their educational opportunities. Drexel University is not affiliated with these scholarships and awards. Any questions about an external scholarship or award should be directed to the sponsoring organization.
