SCO's 2015 Convocation ceremony honored the achievements of the college's students, alumni, faculty and staff. First-year students from the Class of 2019 recited the Student Optometric Oath as part of their formal induction into the profession of optometry.
SCO Board of Trustees member Jarrett Johnson, OD '90, was recognized as the college's 2015 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the college upon its alumni.
Scholarships and other awards were presented in recognition of academic excellence, leadership and and service. Many of SCO's scholarships were made possible by the generous support of SCO's Annual Campaign and Endowed Scholarship funds. Students received more than $87,000 in scholarships.
Among those recognized at Convocation:
Military Services Scholarships
- U.S. ARMY: Trent Gaasch ’16, Emy Thompson ’16, Stephen Tipton ’17
- U.S. NAVY: Katherine Allen ’16
Basic Science and Clinical Science Awards
- 1ST YEAR BASIC SCIENCE AWARDS: Ethan Adkins ’18, Laura Brown ’18, Melinda Dang ’18, Kristen Davis ’18, Elizabeth Fahy ’18, Danny Garcia ’18, Kendra Harbison ’18, AJ McCleary ’18, Slater Smith ’18, Alex Soliz ’18
- 1ST YEAR CLINICAL SCIENCE AWARDS: Ethan Adkins ’18, Melinda Dang ’18, Kristen Davis ’18, Elizabeth Fahy ’18, Kendra Harbison ’18, AJ McCleary ’18, Ryan Piche ’18, Emma Pope ’18, Alex Soliz ’18, Kelsey White ’18
- 2ND YEAR BASIC SCIENCE AWARDS: Leslie Alitz ’17, Celeste Baker ’17, Celia Baker ’17, Jordan Hamric ’17, Derek Hennig ’17, Erin Keim ’17, Sara Petska ’17, Kevin Rice ’17, Ben Roach ’17, Meagan Williams ’17
- 2ND YEAR CLINICAL SCIENCE AWARDS: Leslie Alitz ’17, Celia Baker ’17, Caroline Fogleman ’17, Jordan Hamric ’17, Derek Hennig ’17, Sara Petska ’17, Laura Prindeze ’17, Shalon Rothstein ’17, Whitney Watson ’17, Meagan Williams ’17
- 3RD YEAR CLINICAL SKILLS AWARDS: Feyi Aworunse ’16, Erin Bales ’16, Marie Bolin ’16, Daniel Brigham ’16, Dahlia Haddad ’16, Hannah Holtorf ’16, Scott McIntosh ’16, Kara Vitus ’16, Chelsea Wahl ’16, Ryan Wilkerson ’16
Class Scholarships
The following Endowed Class Scholarships recognize outstanding leadership and professionalism by members of the Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- CLASSES OF ’54, ’56, ’59 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Chris Herring ’17
- CLASSES OF ’60, ’61, ’63 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,500): Mary Nethaway ’18
- CLASSES OF ’64, ’65, ’66 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,500): Taylor Chesnut ’17
- CLASSES OF ’67, ’68, ’69 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Halie Cottrill ’16, Ruhina Shemna ’16
- CLASSES OF ’70, ’71, ’74 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Katie Richardson ’16, Ryan Wilkerson ’16
- CLASS OF 1977 SCHOLARSHIP ($3,000): Brad Anders ’17
- CLASS OF 1978 SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000): Derek Hennig ’17
- CLASS OF 1984 SCHOLARSHIP ($1,500): Liz Perch ’18
- CLASS OF 1997 JIMMY SHERIDAN MEMORIAL AWARD ($1,000): Zach Baumfalk ’17
- CLASS OF 2001 SCOTT WHITAKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Emily Caldwell ’17
Alumni and Friends Scholarships
SCO alumni and friends generously support and recognize academic accomplishments and leadership within the student body. As such, the following endowed scholarships and awards have been established in support of SCO students.
- ROSEMORE FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000): Ben Roach ’17, Kay Powell ’16, Frank Carusone ’16
- NATIONAL BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY AWARD, PART I ($1,000): Sarah Jones ’16
- MAULDIN FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Will Price ’16
- ALUMNI COUNCIL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Angela Haas ’16
- DR. ALLAN AND MRS. SUSAN BARKER ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000): Courtney Morrow ’17
- DR. FREDDY WILFRED CHANG ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Gabe Fickett ’16
- W. DAVID SULLINS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FOR LEADERSHIP ($1,000): Hunter Chapman ’16
- DR. CHARLES L. HAINE HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY ENDOWED AWARD ($1,000): Alex Soliz ’18
- WAYNE W. PYEATT ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000): Preslee Trammell ’16
- PEGGY REMKE MEMORIAL ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($2,000): Kevin Davis ’16
- DR. JOHN A. GAZAWAY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Taylor Neumann ’16
- KANSAS ALUMNI ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Stacey Looper ’17
- FRED FARIAS, III, OD ’87, FAAO ENDOWED AWARD ($1,000): Emy Thompson ’16
- JERRY L. CLAY ENDOWED AWARD ($1,000): Hallie Portner ’17
- DRS. BERGER & MOSCOW FAMILY ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Peyton Glass ’17
- DON E. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ($3,000): Brett O’Connor ’16
- DR. STANLEY M. DICKERSON ENDOWED LEADERSHIP AWARD ($1,000): Kirsten McKnight ’16
- JAMES AND EDNA DUNCAN AWARD ($500): Shay Sechler ’17
State and Professional Associations
- KENTUCKY OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS ($1,000): Elizabeth Fahy ’18, Julie Rallo ’18
- MISSISSIPPI OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION, HONORING DR. WILLIAM E. COCHRAN ($1,000): Devon Morris ’16
- TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Trent Gaasch ’16
- AUXILIARY TO THE ARKANSAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION ($1,000): Mark Machen ’17
- ARKANSAS OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION ($1,500): DR. WILLIAM H. TOWNSEND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Jade Rice ’16
- DR. MILTON WEBB OPTOMETRIC LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE SCHOLARSHIP: Kaitlin Short ’17
Corporate Partners and Ophthalmic Industry
- REVIEW OF OPTOMETRY AND THE RICK BAY FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EYECARE EDUCATION AWARD ($500): Monica Perry ’16
- J. PAT CUMMINGS SCHOLARSHIP ($1,000): Erick Henderson ’17
- VISION SERVICE PLAN SCHOLARSHIPS ($4,000): Feyi Aworunse ’16, Dahlia Haddad ’16
- WALMAN OPTICAL COMPANY SCHOLARSHIP ($1,050): Marie Bolin ’16
- PRECISION OPTICAL LABORATORIES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS ($2,000): Tyler Boone ’17, Matt Page ’17
- OCULAR INSTRUMENTS AWARD (Product Certificate): Megan Stanford ’16, Sandy Trybus ’17, Joe Johnson ’18
- WELCH ALLYN CO. AWARD (Panoptic Ophthalmoscope and Lithium Icon Handle): Lisa Russell ’17
- HEINE USA AWARD (Hand-held Slit Lamp): Daniel Brigham ’16
- KEELER INSTRUMENTS AWARD (Streak Retinoscope and Mini Charger): Katie Araiza-Brown ’16
- OPTOMETRY CARES INFANTSEE SCHOLARSHIP ($2,500): Kyle Stott ’16
- ESSILOR OF AMERICA/VARILUX STUDENT GRANT AWARD ($1,000): Logan Oliver ’16
2014-15 Faculty of the Year
CLASS OF 2016
- Didactic: Patricia Cisarik, OD, PhD
- Clinic: Christopher Borgman, OD
CLASS OF 2017
- Didactic: Scott Ensor, OD '01
- Clinic: Janette Dumas, OD
CLASS OF 2018
- Didactic: John Mark Jackson, OD '99
- Clinic: Betty Harville, OD
BSK TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
- Didactic: Patricia Cisarik, OD, PhD
- Clinic: Christopher Borgman, OD
Burnett Faculty Recognition Award
Board of Trustees Resolutions
- Daniel Fuller, OD
- Feyi Aworunse ’16
Class of 2019
- Kevin Ables
- Parth Amin
- Ashley Anastasio
- Sara Arbutus Duczkowski
- Heather Ashley
- Heather Bae
- Kara Barrett
- Rusha Barua
- Christianne Belair
- Brooke Blankenship
- Justine Bolduc
- Daniel Boone
- Lindsey Brise
- Vikarma Brooks
- Thomas Brown
- Zachary Burroughs
- Elizabeth Cappellari
- Kelly Cawley
- Brian Chado
- Mary Chivetta
- Sohyun Cho
- Kara Clark
- Ashley Cochran
- Sydney Cooper
- Abagail Daugharthy
- Aubrey Davidson
- Elizabeth Davis
- Jae DeBerry
- Betsy Del Valle
- Julie Ervin
- Lindsay Estel
- Anna Fagan
- Taylor Ficek
- Colleen Fischman
- Blair Flint
- Zachary Ford
- Alicia Genilo
- Zachary German
- Amanda Giulietti
- Brittany Glatting
- Emily Haddix
- Emily Hammer
- Victoria Harlow
- Elizabeth Harris
- Jed Harrison
- Courtney Hegener
- Kamil Hill
- Nathaniel Hitt
- Jonathan Hoaglund
- Victoria Howard
- Cayley Hyder
- Eric James
- Jessica Jankiewicz
- Marjorie Jenkins
- Suzanne Johannes
- Bailey Kennedy
- Sarah Kenning
- Julia Kitchens
- Kathryn Koslowski
- Melanie Kovacs
- Larissa Krenk
- Shelby Kruse
- Kevin Lambert
- Rebecca Lassley
- Jake Lewis
- Cameron Lindsey
- Amanda Lorencz
- Matthew Lorson
- Lydia Luther
- Vanessa Manlove
- Shelby May
- Kristin McArdle
- Matthew McBride
- Brandon McChesney
- Morgan C. McClintic
- Weston McCowan
- Elilzabeth McDowell
- Annedrea McMillan
- Blake Means
- Logan Michael
- Royce Miles
- Taylor Mills
- Doan Bui Moore
- Spencer Moore
- Mallory Morris
- Morgan Muller
- Eric Nelson
- Kassidy R. Nelson
- Kelsey Newcome
- Jennifer Nguyen
- Minh Nguyen
- Katelyn Palmer
- Ryan Parrish
- David Phaup
- Mary Price
- Elisa Puerto
- Nicholas Qualls
- Kelly Reed
- Stephanie Rice
- Jenny Rider
- Nicholas Risbrudt
- Madilyn Roghair
- Anna Roxberg
- Shriya Ruparel
- Joel Saslawsky
- Will Sawyer
- Genevieve Schade
- Stephanie Schwendt
- Sam Scott
- Caroline Seger
- Zachary Shriver
- Maria Sicco
- Brittany Smith
- Jennifer Stewart
- Kaley Stinnett
- Laila Tawfik
- Benjamin Taylor
- Joshua Taylor
- Kelsey Teneycke
- Amber Thulin
- Amrik Tiwana
- Kaitlyn Trahan
- Kelly Trapp
- Jessica Vickery
- Hannah Vollmer
- JoAnna Vrotsos
- Nicolas Vu
- Jeromica Ward
- Kyle Wells
- Sarai Wethington
- Laura Whipple
- Brian Williams
- Zachary Williamson
- Tiffany Wooten
- Taylor Wrege
- Donald York
Class of 2019 First Year Parent Tributes
Southern College of Optometry appreciates the generous support of SCO alumni, parents and friends of the college. This support is critical in shaping the positive outcome of all that we accomplish. The following first-year students have had donations made in tribute to them by their families.
- Brooke Blankenship: Brad and Brenda Blankenship
- Mary Chivetta: Chris and Anne Chivetta
- Kara Clark: James and Melanie Clark
- Anna Fagan: Shelby Fagan
- Eric James: Dale and Sandra James
- Bailey Kennedy: Jeff and Sandy Caffee
- Vanessa Manlove: Steven and Sandra Manlove
- Matt McBride: Kenny and Becky McBride
- Elizabeth McDowell: Gary and Ina McDowell
- Kelsey Newcome: Matt and Tammy Newcome
- Minh Nguyen: Robert T. McKay and Ha Thu Mai
- Mary Price: Kathy Price and the late Randy Price
- Nick Qualls: Rick and Ann Qualls
- Sam Scott: Sallye Scott, OD ’78 and Randy Scott
- Zach Shriver: Matt and Angie Shriver
- Jennifer Stewart: Toni Stewart
- Kaley Stinnett: Chris and Kim Stinnett
- Laila Tawfik: Sahar Kamel and Ossama Tawfik
- Kelsey Teneycke: Steve and Alana Armstrong
- Kelly Trapp: Timothy and Cynthia Trapp
- Laura Whipple: Erik and Wanda Brokaw
- Zachary Williamson: Dr. Scott and Amy Williamson
Photos from the event may be found on SCO's Flickr galleries. A DVD of the ceremony may be ordered directly by Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church by calling (901) 722-6222.