American Optometric Foundation Announces 2008 AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision Fellows

American Optometric Foundation Announces 2008 AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision Fellows

The American Optometric Foundation has announced the 2008 class of AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision Fellows. The class consists of 19 optometry students, one selected from every college of optometry in Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Sponsored by Carl Zeiss Vision and administered by the AOF, the Fellowships honor outstanding achievement by third-year optometry students. Each Fellowship includes a $5,000 award made directly to the financial aid office at the student’s college to offset the fourth year of optometric education.

“As a leader in lenses, laboratory services, and equipment for the dispensary, Carl Zeiss Vision recognizes that excellence in eye care depends on excellence in the profession of optometry,” said Fred Howard, Carl Zeiss Vision’s President-Americas. “That’s why we are very proud to support future leaders of optometry through this fellowship program. It was an inspiration to meet last year’s inaugural class of Fellows, and I look forward to welcoming the 2008 class.”

“This is the second year for this landmark program,” said AOF President Dr. Mark Bullimore.

“Last year’s fellows made a huge impression on me and my colleagues at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry. We look forward to meeting the 2008 Fellows and honoring them at this year’s Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The Foundation is again grateful to Carl Zeiss Vision for their leadership and vision in establishing this program”

Each Fellow will also receive a travel grant to attend the American Academy of Optometry annual meetings in their fourth year of study and their first year after graduation. “The idea is to foster an ongoing relationship among the Fellows, and between the Fellows and the Academy,” said Bullimore.

The 2008 AOF/Carl Zeiss Vision Fellows, and the schools they attend, are:

Aarlan Aceto: The New England College of Optometry
Rachel Brackley: Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Michelle Calder Cardwell: Michigan College of Optometry
Elissa Dornbach: University of Houston College of Optometry
Eric Gengenbach: Southern College of Optometry
Scott Noal Gunderson: University of California-Berkeley School of Optometry
L’Erin Harmon: Indiana University School of Optometry
James Freddie Hill III: University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry
Gelea Ice: Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
Nathan Lighthizer: Pacific University College of Optometry
Debbie Luk: University of Waterloo School of Optometry
Teresa Mathew: University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry
David Meyer: Southern California College of Optometry
Billi Jayne Prinzen: Illinois College of Optometry
Stephane Rivard: Université de Montréal Ecole d’Optométrie
Ashley Scantling: Northeastern State University College of Optometry
Susana Toledo: Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Optometry
Lynn Trieu: SUNY State College of Optometry
Jennifer Truong: The Ohio State University College of Optometry

“The AOF-Carl Zeiss Vision Fellowship program establishes a new tradition,” said Howard. “We look forward to helping nurture new leaders in Optometry for many years to come.”