Graduating Student Awards
These campus-based awards are presented annually to graduating SCCO students at the Annual Honors Banquet, held the evening prior to Commencement.

• Alcon Excellence Award (1992)
  A $1,000 award is presented annually by Alcon Laboratories, Inc., to a graduating student who submits a case report that incorporates the use of any Alcon product. The selection of the recipient will be made by the Chief of the Stein Family Cornea and Contact Lens Service by January 31 each year. One overall entry will be chosen from all the College entries to receive another $5,000 award.

• Asian American Optometric Society Endowed Awards (1974, 1996)
  These two endowed awards are offered by the Asian American Optometric Society (AAOS). Recipients are determined by an AAOS Committee in consultation with the VP/Dean of Academic Affairs. Selection is based on academic excellence, extracurricular activities and financial need. Two awards of $1,000 each are presented.
  

• Children in Focus Award (2003)
  This $500 award recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated a high level of proficiency, creative problem solving and enthusiastic care as a participant in the Children in Focus screening and treatment program. Selection of the award recipient will be made by the Children in Focus Board. This award has been created to promote one of the missions of this non- profit institute – to identify and provide eye care to children with focusing, eye teaming and eye tracking deficiencies and, by this care, to promote each child’s ability to fulfill his or her highest academic potential.

• The SCCO Class of 1996 Award (1997)
  This $250 award, sponsored by the SCCO Class of 1996, is presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the desire and ability to help foster a sense of community within the class itself. Preference is given to those class members that have not otherwise been recognized by the College Community. The selection for this award is made by the Dean of Student Affairs.

• Dr. Al Dennis Award (1971)
  This $750 award, in memory of Al Dennis, a Student Association leader from the Class of 1971, is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated interest in, concern for, and dedication to assisting the development of student organizations in optometry. The recipient will have demonstrated dedicated service to fellow students. This is the highest service award given to a student at the College, and the recipient will be selected by the Student Association Board of Directors. A plaque at the College carries the names of past recipients.

Designs for Vision Awards

• Designs for Vision, Inc. Award (1980)
  This award was developed to encourage study in the field of low vision. It is presented to a graduating student who has shown interest and capability in the field of low vision. The award consists of a ClearImageII“ Trial Set #3 valued at $2,100.

• Richard Feinbloom/Peter J. Murphy Award (1990)
  This award, established by Designs for Vision, Inc., is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding clinical patient care in the area of vision rehabilitation. The award consists of a ClearImageII“ Trial Set #2 valued at $1,050.

• Dr. William Feinbloom Low Vision Award (1970)
  This award, established by Designs for Vision, Inc., is presented to a graduating student who, by study, interest and performance, has demonstrated aptitude in the clinical care of low vision patients. The award honors William Feinbloom, Ph.D., a pioneer in the development of low vision devices. This award consists of a ClearImageII“ Trial Set #1 valued at $2,950.

• Eschenbach Optik Low Vision Award (2002)
  This award, sponsored by Eschenbach Optik, is presented annually to a member of the graduating class who has shown aptitude and interest in the field of low vision. The award is a diagnostic kit of low vision aids that includes nine illuminated stand magnifier heads and three handles. The recipient is selected by the Chief of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Service.

• Essilor Digital Corneal Reflection Pupilometer Award (1986)
  This award is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated superior skill in dispensing progressive addition lenses. The award, a Corneal Reflection Pupilometer, is valued at $350.

• Dr. Lawrence E. Gallarini Memorial Award (1988)
  An endowment was established as a memorial to Lawrence E. Gallarini, O.D., '67. Dr. Gallarini served for 17 years as a clinical faculty member of the College. This $1,250 award is presented to a fourth-year student who has demonstrated innovative patient management skills in low vision rehabilitation.

• GP Lens Institute Clinical Excellence Award (1998)
  This annual award is presented to a graduating student who has exhibited enthusiasm for fitting RGP contact lenses in the clinic. The student should have demonstrated interest in learning more about RGP lens designs and materials, exhibited a desire to improve their fitting skills, and promote use of RGP lenses. The award, a plaque and a diagnostic set, varies in value.

• Dr. John R. Griffin Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy (2002)
  This $350 annual award was established by, SCCO Distinguished Professor Emeritus John R. Griffin, M.Opt., O.D., M.S.Ed., who served as a faculty member from 1969 to 2002. Applicants will submit a written, publishable-quality, case report of a vision therapy patient with a successful outcome. This report must be written solely by the student. All aspects of vision therapy can be considered, including binocular anomalies, reading problems, sports vision enhancement, and ocular problems resulting from such causes as traumatic brain injury and stroke. A committee of Vision Therapy faculty of the College will determine the award recipient.

• Dr. Homer and Marie Hendrickson Memorial Awards (1984)
  These awards are presented to graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding comprehension, aptitude and promise in the area of vision therapy. These awards, valued at $750 and $1,000, were established as an endowment in honor of Homer H. Hendrickson, O.D., '38, Trustee Emeritus of the College, and his wife, Marie.

• Dr. Richard L. Hopping Visionary Award (1997)
  This $500 award is presented annually by the Orange County Optometric Society to a fourth-year student who has demonstrated leadership in student government, the community, and the political arena. The award was established in March 1997, in honor of Richard L. Hopping, O.D., D.O.S., D.Sc., for his 24 years of dedicated leadership and service as the President of the Southern California College of Optometry. The recipient is selected by the Dean of Student Affairs.

• Keeler Low Vision Award (1984)
  This award, established by Keeler Instruments, Inc., is presented annually to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding care and management of low vision patients. The award consists of a low vision multi-cap testing set valued at $595.

• The David J. Kerko Low Vision Award sponsored by the Winchester Optical Company (2002)
  This award, established by Winchester Optical Company, is in honor of the retired Mr. David J. Kerko, the co-inventor of many of the Glare Control lenses. This award is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated interest and exceptional clinical proficiency in the area of low vision. (This award was formerly known as the Corning Medical Optics Award, which was established in 1984.)

• Kiwanis Low Vision Award (1988)
  This award, sponsored by the California-Nevada-Hawaii District of Kiwanis International, is presented annually to a graduating senior who has shown interest and aptitude in low vision. This $800 award recipient is selected by the Chief of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Service at the College, with counsel from the Kiwanis District.

• Luxottica Group Ophthalmic Dispensing Award (1986)
  The Luxottica Group award of $1,000 recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional dispensing skills and proficiency in eyewear adjustment and modification.

• Marchon Eyewear Excellence Award (1993)
  This $1,000 award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding clinical and dispensing skills in patient management. The recipient is selected by the faculty in the Primary Eye Care Optometry Service.

• Nick Meneakis Memorial Award (1978)
  This award, established as an endowment by the Class of 1978, honors the memory of Nick Meneakis, a fellow classmate. This $1,000 award is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding interest and ability in the area of ocular pharmacology.

• NoIR Medical Technologies Award (1988)
  This award recognizes clinical excellence. It is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding care and management of low vision patients. The student awardee receives a UV Shield Evaluation Kit of absorptive lenses and contrast magnifiers valued at $600.

• Paragon Vision Sciences Award (1995)
  A $1,000 award is presented by Paragon Vision Sciences to a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional accomplishment in contact lens clinical performance. The recipient is selected by the faculty in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service.

• Hedda Jaanus Podrang Memorial Award (1997)
  An endowment, established by SCCO Professor Emerita, Siret D. Jaanus, Ph.D., and her husband, Jaak Jurison, Ph.D., honors the memory of her mother, Hedda Jaanus Podrang. The award of $1,000 was established to encourage interest in the discipline of ocular pharmacology and to recognize a graduating student who has demonstrated academic excellence and exceptional aptitude in ocular pharmacology and clinical ocular therapeutics. Selection of the recipient is made by the Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and the VP/Dean of Academic Affairs.

• Primary Eyecare Network (PEN) Award (1992)
  This award is presented to a graduating student who has displayed a high degree of professionalism and commitment to the independent practice of optometry. Nominees for this $1,000 award will be chosen by the Student Association Board, along with the Dean of Student Affairs.

• TeleSensory Low Vision Award (1986)
  This $750 award is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding promise in low vision/rehabilitation and high sensitivity to the personal concerns and needs of low vision patients.

• The Vision West, Inc., Independent Optometric Profession Award (1993)
  Vision West, Inc., provides an award of $1,000 to a graduating senior who has demonstrated consistent clinical excellence in patient care; and, has submitted a 500-word essay on how the student envisions his/her role as part of the independent optometric profession. The essays of nominated candidates will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the Vision West Board.

• Visionary Award (2002)
  This award, sponsored by Visionary, Inc., is presented to a graduating student who has demonstrated interest and proficiency in fitting rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. The recipient of this $1,000 in RGP contact lenses is selected by the faculty in the Cornea and Contact Lens Service.

• Vistakon, Inc. Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care (1989)
  The $1,000 award and plaque are presented by Vistakon, Inc., to a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in clinical contact lens patient care, and a commitment to serving the individual needs of patients.