 SCO Dedicates New Complex
A highlight to remember from this year's Fall Homecoming and CE weekend was the dedication ceremony for SCO's new academic facility. Led by President Richard Phillips, OD '78, and Board Chair Jarrett Johnson, OD '90, the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony saw nearly 1,000 people in attendance. Major donors attended a preview reception the night before, with a President's Reception providing tours later in the weekend. Representing SCO's most ambitious construction project since The Eye Center was built in 2002, the new facility includes classrooms, an atrium, grand hall, pre-clinical labs, research suites, faculty offices and other improvements. The ceremony was covered by the local news media. Look for more coverage in the Fall Annual Report edition of VISIONS, SCO's magazine for alumni and friends.
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 ALUMNI RETURN FOR HOMECOMING
Convocation Recognizes Achievement
SCO's alumni enjoyed a number of new events during Fall Homecoming and CE weekend, including an all alumni dinner with special recognition of reunion classes that saw the Class of 2003 (pictured) with the most in attendance. At SCO's 28th annual Convocation ceremony, U.S. Senator John Boozman, OD '77, and Jim Newman, OD '73, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while USN Lt. Commander Emily Sprague, OD '04, received the Young Alumni Award. The Class of 1963 was also recognized on the occasion of its 50-year anniversary as they participated in the ceremony and attended a reunion luncheon. Alumni also attended a Thursday evening kick-off party at the Peabody Memphis, where the weekend concluded with a special after-party and dance. Mark your calendars - next year's event is set for Oct. 9-12, 2014.
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HONORARY DEGREE NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
Deadline is October 31
SCO is seeking submissions for names of distinguished optometrists and other individuals for consideration of honorary degrees to be awarded at commencement in 2014. The college invites you to submit names and accomplishments of those to be considered; anonymous submissions will not be accepted. Recipients must be of sufficient stature and character as to honor the college. Specific criteria must include at least two of these:
- Distinguished record of scholarship
- Outstanding contributions to society through humanitarian efforts, public service or education
- Outstanding contributions to optometry or the optometric profession.
Nominations and supporting details should be sent to Academic Affairs (Honorary Degrees), c/o SCO, 1245 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN 38104 or to degrees@sco.edu. The deadline is Thursday, October 31.
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CLASSNOTES AND UPDATES
News about SCO's Alumni and Faculty
W.C. Maples, OD '68, recently lectured at a conference in Poland. SCO faculty member Paul Harris, OD, also participated.
Donald Baker, OD '74, recently retired. He is passing the torch to Becky King, OD '09, one of his former patients who was inspired by him to pursue optometry. Read more in this story.
 Charles Stuckey, OD '74, MPA, was presented the prestigious H. Ward Ewalt, OD, Meritorious Service Award by the Pennsylvania Optometric Association. The POA's highest honor recognizes exemplary dedication and commitment to optometry. Dr. Stuckey was named POA's Executive Director in 1997, becoming one of only six full-time executive directors in the association's nearly 120-year history. He previously led the association as president in 1990 and served on the Board of Directors from 1985-1991.
Jack Mermelstein, OD '76, recently received the E.C. Nurock Award from the New Jersey  Society of Optometric Physicians. The award is the highest his state association presents in recognition of outstanding service to the profession and community involvement. Dr. Mermelstein established Resident Eye Care Associates in 1989, where he employs eight ODs and consults across the state on geriatric care issues.
Terry Moehnke, OD '77, is a candidate for City Council in the November 5 Fort Dodge, Iowa City elections.
Scott Gentry, OD '81, was named Tennessee's OD of the Year.
Cynthia Baker, OD '83, has been elected to serve as Secretary/Treasurer for the Optometric Association of Louisiana. Her daughter, Celeste, is a first-year SCO student.
Janna Zbozien Smith, OD '00, married Sean McCallister on September 13, 2013.
Kayla Melton, OD '01, was promoted to the rank of Major in the Air National Guard and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for a humanitarian deployment to assist with Innovative  Readiness Training programs for the Army, Air Force and Navy.
Jennifer Jones, OD '06, and her husband welcomed a daughter, Avery Lynn, on Sept. 20, pictured.
Melinda Legg, OD '08, and her husband, Joshua, welcomed a son, Michael Stephen, on  August 14, pictured.
Matthew Donner, OD '09, has joined Des Moines Eye Care and the Ames Eye Clinic in Iowa.
Ragna Godtland, OD '10, has joined Sanford Health Baudette Eye Center in Minnesota.
Gary Granger, OD '10, recently opened his new practice, Granger Eye Studio, in Youngsville, Louisiana.
Brigitte Keener, OD '11, recently started a position at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida as a Senior Associate Consultant in the Department of Ophthalmology.
Sam Winston, OD '11, received the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians' Young OD of the Year Award at the TAOP's fall Congress meeting.
Dustin Dixon, OD '12, received a VISTAKON Residency Award at the American Optometric Foundation's luncheon during the American Academy of Optometry meeting.
Ellen Elmore, OD '13, has joined the Clarksville, Tennessee practice of Russ Orr, OD '75, and Steve Routledge, OD '83.
 Kristin Reed, OD '13, and her husband, Josh, welcomed their first son, Brayden Stephen, pictured, on September 3. Dr. Reed also has taken the lease as the optometrist for Target Optical in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Jessie Elmore, OD '13, and Sam Johnson, OD '13, recently announced their engagement. The wedding is set for April 5, 2014.
Addie Smith, OD '13, has joined the Bond-Wroten Eye Clinic in Louisiana owned by Chris Wroten, OD '02, and Sarah Wroten, OD '03.
Faculty UpdatesNew faculty include Dr. Rachel Grant, Instructor, and Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald, Professor. Dr. Michael Dorkowski has been named Coordinator of the Nursing Home & Assisted Living Program.  Dr. Patricia Estes-Walker was installed as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Tennessee Association of Optometric Physicians. She's pictured taking the oath with L-R: Board Chair Dr. David Talley (SCO Adjunct Faculty); President-Elect Ross Lumpkin, OD '10, and President Tonya Reynoldson, OD '01. They were installed by AOA Immediate Past President Dr. Ronald Hopping. Dr. Dan Fuller published an article in Optometry and Vision Sciences and provided two COPE-approved lectures at Eye Specialty Group. Dr. Paul Harris has officially assumed the role of President of the Board of Directors of the Optometric Extension Program Foundation. His four-year term begins following 12 years of his service to the board. Dr. Harris was also recently interviewed by Primary Care Optometry News for this article about behavioral optometry techniques. Dr. Karen Kehbein was inducted as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development at the COVD's annual meeting earlier this month.
Dr. Chris Lievens delivered one hour of CE at the Wisconsin Optometric Association's Fall Congress. He also had a peer-reviewed article published in the September issue of Contact Lens Spectrum magazine on contact lenses and infiltrative keratitis. Dr. Zakiya Nicks was named to the Memphis Business Journal's "Top 40 Under 40" list of outstanding young leaders. Dr. Nicks also won a meeting-wide award at the annual gathering of the Tennessee Public Health Association for an academic poster. Dr. Glen Steele was recently nominated as a White House Champion of Change for Public Health and Prevention. He also led InfantSEE events at Western University College of Optometry and delivered CE lectures at the Northeast OEP Congress of Optometry. Dr. Steele was also interviewed for this online story.Dr. Marc Taub's "Visual Diagnosis and the Care of the Patients with Special Needs" won the 2013 BMA Medical Book Award First Prize Health and Social Care last month in London, England. Dr. Taub and Dr. Paul Harris recently traveled to Mexico to lecture at the Congreso Internacional de Optometria Funcional group. Dr. James E. Venable represented The Eye Center as a finalist in the Outstanding Community Outreach category for the Memphis Business Journal's Healthcare Heroes Awards ceremony. Drs. Melissa Zarn, Anna Schlesselman, Michael Dorkowski and Jason Duncan received their fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry at this month's annual meeting in Seattle. In Memoriam:- J.C. Morrison, OD '48; Gainesville, GA
- Erwin Lax, OD '53; Little Rock, AR. Dr. Lax served on SCO's Board from 1982-1990, including two years as Board Chair, and received SCO's Doctor of Ocular science degree.
- SCO Professor Emeritus Bobby Montgomery, OD '68; Memphis, TN
- Fred Burnett, OD '80; Jackson, TN. A former member of SCO's faculty, Dr. Burnett later served on SCO's Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Charlene Burnett, OD '83, sponsored a faculty award that bears their names as well as a student research award and an endowed scholarship that bears their names.
- Craig Sanders, OD '83; Lafayette, LA
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 UPCOMING EVENTS
Note the Dates for SCO's Events!
- November 8: Kansas Optometric Association
- January 8: State Day, SCO campus
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