UW Student Receives Optometry Scholarship

Arianna Schabauer, of Rapid City, S.D., is the recipient of the University of Wyoming’s James A. Boucher, O.D.  and Julie M. Uhlmann, Ph.D. Optometry Scholarship.

Schabauer is attending the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn., this fall. She graduated from UW last spring with a B.S. in molecular biology, and minors in the Honors Program and mathematics.

“It feels like a dream. I have worked my whole life to be able to start studying vision and optometry this fall,” Schabauer says.

Along with excelling academically, job shadowing and volunteering, Schabauer worked part time for two years as a vision therapist to better understand the profession and become a more competitive applicant.

She is grateful to receive the award, which will help with tuition and books this fall. In addition to the monetary support, Schabauer feels the scholarship shows that she is making the right decision and is supported by people in the optometry field.

“My advice to other preoptometry students, and preprofessional students as well, is plan early. Look into schools early to see what requirements and prerequisites you will need. Get more than enough observational hours and a job in the field in undergrad if you can,” she says. “Be active with volunteering and clubs. It is not all about your GPA anymore -- although that should be good as well, of course. Take your standardized test early, and study a lot so you do not need to take it again.”

She adds that preparation makes the process easier because it can become stressful.

“It is a lot of work, but it will be all worth it in the end, so don't give up,” Schabauer advises.

The James A. Boucher, O.D. and Julie M. Uhlmann, Ph.D. Optometry Scholarship was established for UW students who demonstrate academic success and are accepted into any accredited optometry school or college.

Boucher, an optometrist in Laramie since 1966, and his wife, a retired university professor of cultural anthropology, “hope to pass on their passion for the profession of optometry and for service to the profession and to humanity by providing this scholarship.”

For more information, call the UW Preprofessional Health Advising Center at (307) 766-3499, or visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/preprof.