ALUMNI

The Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award is bestowed upon an LASO, LACO or Southern California College of Optometry graduate in recognition of service to the College, the Profession and the Community. The Award is presented at the Commencement ceremony in May. 

With over 5,000 alumni, this is a highly competitive process.  The Alumni Association Board coordinates the submissions, with a committee comprised of the last three recipients of the award making the final selection.  The selection process for the next Distinguished Alumnus of the Year will commence in early 2012.  Please check back at that time for an online nomination form.

Montana Optometrist Bill Simons, O.D., '82, is the SCCO Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2011. Dr. Simons was recognized during the College's May 20 Commencement Exercise by SCCO President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D.

Helena, Montana Optometrist Bill Simons, O.D., '82, has been honored by the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) Alumni Association as its Distinguished Alumnus of the Year for 2011. Dr. Simons, was selected for this special recognition based on his service to his alma mater, leadership within the profession, and achievement in community service.

"Dr. Simons joins a select group of 31 graduates of the College who have received this honor," noted SCCO President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. Dr. Simons was honored during the College's Commencement Exercise on Friday, May 20, in Fullerton, CA.

So strongly does Bill Simons, O.D., believe in the ability of the College to prepare optometrists for exemplary patient care and the skills necessary to compete in the eye care market, that his thriving, three-partner practice in Helena, Montana, includes both 1997 graduate Bill Hasquet, O.D., and 2006 graduate Marcus Kelley, O.D.  His son, Rob, is a member of the Class of 2013.

Professionally active, Dr. Simons has been instrumental in the passage of Montana's TPA scope of practice expansion legislation serving as legislative chair in 1993. He served as the Montana Optometric Association (MOA) president in 1991 and as the 1994 President of the Great Western Council of Optometry.  He was twice selected as the MOA Optometrist of the Year and received the MOA Special Achievement Award in 1993. At the national level, Bill has served on the American Optometric Association (AOA) Practice Management Committee, Statutory Scope Committee and as the Montana AOA-PAC Representative.  In 2006, he represented Montana at the Summit 2020 Conference.

Eight years ago, Bill was instrumental in founding and is still the managing partner in Summit Optical, an optometrist-owned, full-service cooperative optical laboratory created to help private practice, independent optometrists compete through economies of scale and vertical integration.

An AOA InfantSee eye doctor, he participates in the Eye Care for the Needy/MOA "Give a Day" programs.  He was a founding member and president of the Helena Education Foundation. Toward SCCO, Dr. Simons has been generous with his resources.  He’s a Life Member of the Alumni Association with 21 years of giving, was the 2005–06 Annual Fund Chair, a member of his Twenty-Fifth Reunion Committee, and is a member of the SCCO Council of Regents.

See previously honored Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Recipients.