Members of SUNY College of Optometry’s Class of 2017 were honored for academic, service, and professional excellence during the annual Graduation Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 25 at 10 a.m. in the Schwarz Theater.
Congratulations and we wish you all the best as you graduate!
Special Recognition
Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
Karen Alicia Levy and Derek A. Radich
Academic Awards
Beta Sigma Kappa Award for Academic Excellence
Karen Alicia Levy
Dr. Frederick W. Brock Memorial Award for Outstanding Clinical Performance in Vision Training
Andrew Sherman
College of Optometrists in Vision Development Award for Excellence in Vision Training
Kevin Zhang
Columbia Class of 1936 Award for Academic and Clinical Achievement in Ocular Disease
Mary Teresa Botelho
Class of 1991 Pacesetter Award for Excellence in Primary Care
Karen Alicia Levy
Dr. Stanley Eisenberg Memorial Award for Excellence in Practice Development and Administration
Allison Kay LaRue
Dr. William Feinbloom Memorial Award for Outstanding Clinical Proficiency in Low Vision
Christine O’Connell
Ira Goldfarb Memorial Award for Excellence in Low Vision
Loren K. Franke
Dr. Louis Herrmann Memorial Award for Outstanding Compassion in Patient Care
Abraham Alboher
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Unger Award for Excellence in Optometry
Andrew Sherman
Josh Wallman, PhD Memorial Research Award
Celia R. Gong
Esther J. Werner Memorial Award for Academic Excellence:
Mary Teresa Botelho
Service Awards
Dr. Max Cohen Memorial Award for Volunteer Commitment to Community Service
Azinda Michiyo Morrow
Dr. Benjamin Freed Memorial Award for Community Service
Linda Shi
Morton L. Kimmelman Memorial Award for Student Leadership in Organized Optometry
Patrick M. Doty, Kelly Lauren Voltz, and Michael Thomas Wallerich
Billie M. Lyons Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to the College Community
Pratik Jayanti Patel
New York State Optometric Association Auxiliary Award for Outstanding Service to the Class of 2017
Allison Kay LaRue
Dr. Abram A. Hubal Student Service Award sponsored by the New York State Optometric Association
Michael Thomas Wallerich
Professional Distinction Awards
Alcon Award for the Outstanding Case Report on the Use of an Alcon Product
Priya P. Patel
GP Lens Institute Clinical Excellence Award for Outstanding Clinical Proficiency in Contact Lenses
Michael Thomas Mendsen
Dr. William M. Eisenberg Memorial Award for Excellence in Ocular Disease sponsored by Alcon
Diana Perez
Eschenbach Award for Excellence in Low Vision
Komal Shah
Johnson & Johnson Award for Excellence in Clinical Contact Lens Patient Care
Azinda Michiyo Morrow
Marchon Award for Excellence in Practice Management
Michael Thomas Wallerich
Mira-Med 20/20 Vision Award for Excellence in Optometry
Brieann Kourtney Adair
Optelec Award for Excellence in Low Vision
Bluma Dukesz