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| The Class of 2011 |
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The one-hundred and seventh Commencement Exercise of the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), was highlighted by the recognition of 96 Doctor of Optometry degree candidates; the delivery of the Commencement Speech by the President-Elect of the American Optometric Association (AOA), Dori M. Carlson, O.D.; the conferring of the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) upon California Senator Edward Hernandez, O.D., (D-West Covina); the announcement of SCCO's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year William H. Simons, O.D., '82; and the acknowledgment of 33 optometrists who have successfully completed one-year residency programs. The Commencement Exercise was held on, Friday, May 20, on the College's Fullerton campus.
The members of the SCCO's Class of 2011 include 60 women and 36 men. Two third-generation optometrists and three second-generation optometrists are members of the class. Seven members of the graduating class have earned Summa Cum Laude honors; 13 earned Magna Cum Laude honors; and 19 students attained Cum Laude recognition. The new Doctors of Optometry represent 13 states and Canada. In addition to California, the states include: Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Earning a perfect 4.0 GPA is SCCO's Class of 2011 Valedictorian Shora Mobin Ansari, M.S., Yorba Linda, CA. Prior to entering SCCO in August 2007, Ansari earned two degrees from the University of California, San Diego, a B.S. in pharmacological chemistry and an M.S. in chemistry.
California Senator Edward Hernandez, O.D., (D–West Covina), received the honorary degree, Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), during the Commencement Exercise. Senator Hernandez was recognized for his record of commitment to the profession of optometry and to the citizens of California.
During the Commencement Exercise, Bill Simons, O.D., was introduced as the SCCO Alumni Association's 2011 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. 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, a 1982 SCCO graduate, practices in Helena, MT.
Thirty-three optometrists were acknowledged during the ceremony for completion of their one-year residency programs. SCCO residency programs provide specialized training in cornea and contact lenses, ocular disease, low vision rehabilitation, pediatric optometry and vision therapy, and primary eye care.
Established in 1904, SCCO is a private, non-profit, educational institution dedicated to educating today's minds to provide tomorrow's eye, vision and health care. SCCO grants a four-year, professional degree, Doctor of Optometry (OD) and a Master of Science in Vision Science (MS). The College's superior clinical education program provides patient care experiences in community optometric clinics; exposure to the delivery of optometric care in multi-disciplinary settings; and experiences in practices serving a wide variety of ethnic and socio-economic patient groups. SCCO owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers – the Eye Care Center located on its campus in Fullerton, CA, and the Optometric Center of Los Angeles located in south-central LA.