VCD Classroom Scholarship: How VCD Is Supporting Better Learning Environments

A student adjusting their glasses in a classroom, representing the impact of the VCD Classroom Scholarship on educational opportunities.
February 4, 2025
James Ashford

What if our children could learn in an environment that adapts to them? What if classrooms could feel welcoming, support connections and foster growth?

At Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma, this is an ideal we share with educators. We believe a good learning environment is key for students to thrive and find joy in their studies.

That’s why we’re committed to helping teachers create better learning environments with the VCD Classroom Scholarship.

What is the VCD Classroom Scholarship?

Since 2018, every fall and spring, six educators receive exciting news: They’ve been selected for a $250 cash award.

By awarding a cash prize to a total of twelve educators each year, the VCD Classroom Scholarship program reinforces our commitment to supporting education and advancing our mission.

The winners are free to spend the money on anything they deem necessary — as long as it’s for their classroom. Past winners have bought supplies, learning materials or even classroom toys.

Every year, we’re amazed at how creative educators are. Each winner shows us something new about what makes a classroom come alive.

Our brilliant Oklahoma teachers have done amazing things with these cash awards, and we can’t wait to see what kind of engaging and innovative learning environments future winners create. Will you be one of them?

Who Can Participate and Win a VCD Classroom Scholarship?

The rules are simple. The VCD Classroom Scholarship is a giveaway open to any teacher over the age of 21. We’ll accept one entry per classroom or teacher, and the odds of winning are based on the number of submissions we receive.

As a teacher, you can fill out an entry form for your classroom. We’ll just need your name, contact information and the name of the school where you teach.

If you’re a parent and know a teacher who deserves a cash award, feel free to share this form with them so they can enter for a chance to win!

We draw winners twice a year, contact them and send them a check.

The Classroom Scholarship and VCD’s Mission

This project is special to us at VCD. Students spend six to seven hours a day in a classroom.

It’s an environment where they’re learning key skills, including math and reading. It’s also a formative experience that hopefully allows them to develop important social skills, make friends and navigate the world.

However, teachers face many challenges. These include limited funding, difficulties managing student behavior and preparing students for an increasingly tech-oriented world.

Despite these obstacles, the majority of educators use words like “enjoyable” or “fulfilling” when describing their jobs!

Our Oklahoma educators are playing an important role in helping raise tomorrow’s adults. Our aim is to support their vision and help them create classrooms where every child can discover their potential.

VCD Classroom Scholarship Success Stories

As you know, at VCD, we’re passionate about eye health. We advocate, in particular, for eye health in the classroom, both with better access to pediatric vision care and learning environments that are gentle on the eyes.

Why does it matter so much to us? With many students suffering from refractive errors, sometimes undiagnosed, a classroom environment that is harsh on the eyes can get in the way of learning and cause students to fall behind.

As a community-focused organization. we care deeply about empowering teachers in creating vision-friendly classrooms where every student can thrive.

However, our VCD Classroom Scholarship has a much broader focus, and winners can spend the money in any way they see fit. There is no obligation to focus on creating an eye-friendly classroom.

We admire the creativity of past winners and want to share their success stories with you. Maybe you’ll find some ideas for your own classroom!

Hands-On Science

As a 6th-grade science teacher, Amy Wilson always looks for fun and engaging ways to demonstrate important STEM concepts. With her Oklahoma teacher scholarship award, she purchased scales for her classroom, an essential hands-on learning tool for experimenting with mass and weight.

Reading Material

Ashley Ross used her VCD scholarship award to bring the Fusion Reading curriculum to Webster Middle School. This research-based curriculum uses an innovative approach to help struggling teens develop essential reading skills by engaging them with texts that address relatable challenges and issues.

Lego Wall

Who says high school kids are too old for classroom toys? Ryan Wright, an English teacher at Sapulpa Public Schools, created a Lego wall for his classroom. The wall quickly became a favorite hangout spot, encouraging students to make new friends and share their colorful creations.

AI-Powered Learning

The future of learning is here. Abby Borenn, a teacher at North Rock Creek Public Schools, used her VCD scholarship award to buy Kuta Software, a groundbreaking AI-powered tool that creates personalized math tests and assignments based on each student’s performance. It targets the areas where they need a little extra help and ensures each student is progressing.

More Seating Options

Imagine it’s your first day of kindergarten. Visualize walking into a classroom filled with colorful floor pillows, inviting bean bag chairs and floor rockers! That’s the vision Nikki Jo Dunn turned into reality with her award, giving students a variety of seating choices to encourage agency and create a more comfortable environment for those who tend to fidget.

STAR Testing and Headphones

STAR tests are a popular tool for assessing reading and math skills. Cathy Gordon, a first-grade teacher in Waurika, OK, purchased headphones with her VCD scholarship award. Her students can now interact with the audio components of these tests more comfortably.

Enter for a Chance to Win a VCD Classroom Scholarship

These stories inspire us, and we can’t wait to see what future recipients of the VCD classroom scholarship will do with their awards.

What will you do with the money? While you think of ways you could create a better environment for your students, don’t forget to fill out the VCD Oklahoma Classroom Scholarship entry form for a chance to win.

Do you know a teacher who deserves a cash award? Make sure to share the entry form with them.

Summary: Twice a year, VCD awards six lucky teachers $250 in cash. The winners can use their scholarship money to buy learning materials, supplies, classroom toys, or anything else they deem necessary to create a great learning environment.

Not sure where to get started with recommending self-funded plans? Vision Care Direct of Oklahoma is pre-paid plan provider with and extensive of specialists who deliver eye care in Tulsa and nationwide with excellent value for employers and plan recipients.

Find out more about our self-funded plans and other flexible options.

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