Doctor of Optometry Student Takes Advantage of Scholarship Opportunity

After earning his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering in 2018 from Penn State, Prince Denson ‘25OD was still unsure what career he wanted to pursue.

But he didn’t hesitate at all when presented with the opportunity to pursue the Air Force Allied Health Professions scholarship while a second-year student at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Salus University.

The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) offers two, three, and four-year military scholarships that can help cover civilian medical school tuition, pay for fees, and provide a monthly living stipend. The length of the scholarships can vary by service branch.

“I looked into it and I thought it was a great opportunity. I couldn’t not take advantage of it,” said Denson. “Two years of school is paid for, all the equipment is paid for, you get a nice stipend and then you only have to commit for three years. It doesn’t seem that bad to travel for three years and get some good life experiences.”

Originally from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Denson realized during his third year at Penn State that he didn’t want to pursue a career in chemical engineering, but he decided it was too late for him to change majors at that stage. He was friends and had worked with his family’s optometrist, Greg Vallino, OD ‘92, and by the time Denson finished his undergrad, Dr. Vallino had a part-time opportunity open in his lab. While working there, he made lenses and helped with all stages of digital lens surfacing and finishing.

As a result, Denson’s father suggested he look into optometry as a possible profession and Dr. Vallino agreed, suggesting he consider applying to PCO/Salus.

“Dr. Vallino thought it was something that would really fit my personality and something I would be good at,” said Denson. “I said ‘Let me shadow for a couple of weeks and see if I want to do it,’ and sure enough I did.”

The decision to pursue the HPSP scholarship — and make the three-year commitment to the Air Force after graduating from PCO/Salus — was a big decision, Denson said, but one that he made quickly.

“I was not planning to do this at the beginning of the year. If you had asked me in January where I’d be, I would not have told you I would be joining the military,” he said.

The scholarship is offered by the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the benefits are the same across all three services. For those who apply to HPSP, selection boards tend to look at all aspects of a person's application — leadership, extracurricular activities, fitness, grades and scores — so they can determine who will succeed in both medical school and the military.

Denson was recently commissioned by the Air Force. When he completes his Doctor of Optometry degree, he will attend Officer Training School before his Air Force commitment.

Denson said receiving the scholarship will make his final two years at PCO/Salus a little easier. “To just have a little financial freedom with the stipend is relaxing and to know that I don’t have to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars after I finish school is relieving,” he said. “It enables me to just focus on school.”