UMSL Optometry Student Wins National Industry Scholarship
The award recognizes academic and clinical excellence, offering specialized training to a third-year optometry student.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Scholarships
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Annie Kikhamsouk, a third-year student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) College of Optometry, was recently awarded the J. Pat Cummings Scholarship. Kikhamsouk was also selected as a 2026-27 Johnson & Johnson ACUVUE Student Intern alongside fellow student Hiba Zaidi.
Why it matters
Scholarships like the J. Pat Cummings award and specialized internships provide optometry students with critical financial support and professional development opportunities. These programs help bridge the gap between classroom theory and clinical practice by funding academic excellence and extracurricular involvement.
The J. Pat Cummings Scholarship is awarded annually to second- or third-year students who excel in academics, extracurriculars, and patient care. Recipients are evaluated by university faculty, with Kikhamsouk being selected for her contributions at UMSL.
The players
Annie Kikhamsouk
A third-year optometry student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis who serves as treasurer for two student professional associations.
University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry
A public optometry school that prepares students for clinical practice and professional optometric service.
Johnson & Johnson Vision
A major manufacturer of eye health products that sponsors scholarships and professional training programs for optometry students.
Hiba Zaidi
A student intern selected alongside Kikhamsouk for the 2026-27 Johnson & Johnson ACUVUE program.
The details
Kikhamsouk was selected by UMSL faculty for the scholarship based on her academic track record and her leadership in organizations like the Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity. As part of their selection as ACUVUE interns, Kikhamsouk and Hiba Zaidi completed training at the Johnson & Johnson Vision Institute in Jacksonville, where they focused on advanced patient lens fitting techniques.
Timeline
Late September 2026: Kikhamsouk and Zaidi toured the Johnson & Johnson facility.
2026-27: Kikhamsouk and Zaidi serve as J&J ACUVUE student interns.
2027: Kikhamsouk expects to perform fourth-year externships.
Education Landscape
Professional development for optometry students increasingly centers on private-public partnerships with vision care leaders. These programs follow a trend of manufacturers providing specialized training to help students transition into the competitive field of eye care.
Students seeking similar opportunities should maintain strong academic standing and engage in extracurricular leadership, which are key metrics for faculty-nominated awards. You should check with your school's financial-aid or departmental office to learn about faculty-nomination timelines for industry-sponsored scholarships.
The takeaway
Faculty nomination often serves as the gateway to major industry-sponsored awards, making active campus involvement essential for eligible students. Students should keep their CVs updated and maintain regular communication with faculty mentors regarding upcoming scholarship application cycles.
Further reading
For more on financial support for optometry students, visit our Scholarships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by STLtoday.
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