UAB School of Optometry Graduates 30th Class, 1,000th Graduate

The UAB School of Optometry held its Doctoral Convocation and Hooding Ceremony for graduating optometry students May 23, marking its 30th graduating class and the 1,000th graduate of the school. The convocation honored 40 graduates of the class of 2003, of which 23 have a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

May 28, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The UAB School of Optometry held its Doctoral Convocation and Hooding Ceremony for graduating optometry students May 23, marking its 30th graduating class and the 1,000th graduate of the school. The convocation honored 40 graduates of the class of 2003, of which 23 have a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

The Honorable Artur Davis, United States House of Representatives, Alabama 7th Congressional District, was the honored speaker.

During the ceremony, more than 20 achievement and scholarship awards were presented and 19 students were inducted into the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society, for students with a 3.2 grade point average or higher. Of note, graduate Joyce Gibson Anderson won the Alcon National Student Scholarship Award, receiving $5,000 with her winning paper on “Ectropion Resolution with Tobradex Treatment.” Anderson already had been selected to receive the Alcon Fourth Year Optometry Student 2003 Scholarship Award of $1,000 before going on to compete nationally.

Other awards were:


Achievement Awards

ABBA Optical RGP Practice Achievement Award
Paul A. Dearing

COVD Award for Excellence in Vision Therapy
Chad Michael Belanger

Designs for Vision Incorporated/William Feinbloom Low Vision Award
Regina Lynn Callihan

Eschenbach Low Vision Student Award
Regina Lynn Callihan

Goodkin Border and Associates Low Vision Award
Minh Tan Duong

Marchon Practice Management Award
Chad Michael Belanger

RGP Lens Institute Clinical Excellence Award
Ann Marie Wonderling

VisionAmerica Co-Management Award
Chad Michael Belanger

Vistakon Excellence in Contact Lens Award
Candice Irene Turner

Winchester Optical/David J. Kerko Low Vision Award
Lori Walker Couch


Awards of Distinction

Alabama Optometric Association Leadership Award
Suzanna Elizabeth Anderson

Beta Sigma Kappa Silver Medal
Candice Irene Turner

Birmingham Area Optometric Society Clinician Award
Candice Marie Melara

Jess Boyd Eskridge Clinical Excellence Award
Ann Marie Wonderling

Southern Council of Optometrists Clinical Excellence Award
Chad Michael Belanger

Dean’s Award of Excellence
Sean Michael Stevens


Scholarship Awards

Dr. Lester Caplan/CIBA Vision Corporation Endowed Scholarship
Jennifer Karen Marshall
Candice Irene Turner

Vision Service Plan/Dr. Henry B. Peters Excellence in Primary Care Scholarship
Candice Irene Turner

Vision Service Plan Scholarship Award
Chad Michael Belanger

Fredric and Marion Rosemore Family Foundation Scholarship
(2003 Scholarship Award given in honor of Sidney Greenberg, O.D., and Martha Greenberg, O.D.)
Joyce Gibson Anderson

Dr. Elbert A. “Bert” Coshatt Alumni Endowed Scholarship
Jennifer Karen Marshall


Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society

Joyce Gibson Anderson
Suzanna Elizabeth Anderson
Chad Michael Belanger
Holly Edwards Bowie
Ryan James Brown
Thi Hoang Bui
Lori Walker Couch
Paul A. Dearing
Bradley N. Hines
Jennifer Karen Marshall
Jennifer M. Mayer
Candice Marie Melara
Kathryn Elizabeth Phillips
Jonathan James Procter
Dustin Lee Reece
Patrick Anthony Rossi
Sean Michael Stevens
Candice Irene Turner
Ann Marie Wonderling