Southern College of Optometry—Student Organizations

SOUTHERN COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

SCO’s student leaders have put together a great overview of the benefits of getting involved in student organizations. Check out this flipbook with letters from each club president.

Welcome to SCO, Class of 2026!

On behalf of the American Optometric Student Association, congratulations on your acceptance to Southern College of Optometry! All of your hard work to get to this point has paid off and brought you here for the most challenging, but rewarding four years of your life. The AOSA is here to support you; today’s students and tomorrow’s Doctors of Optometry.

The AOSA is the student division of the American Optometric Association, which advocates for and protects the profession of optometry. The AOSA’s mission is “Empowering students to thrive as doctors of optometry.” We value loyalty, respect, foresight, integrity, and collaboration. The AOSA is here for you! Our goal is to assist you with any obstacles you may encounter on your optometric journey through educational resources, networking opportunities, such as AOA+ Leadership Link, and the knowledge to launch you into a successful career.

The AOSA at SCO hosts multiple events each year for our student members. These events include Optifest, State Day, Student Bowl, and World Sight Day. We also promote and support national conferences like Optometry’s Meeting and AOA on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. We provide thousands of dollars’ worth of travel grants to help send you to the most important meetings of the year so that you have every opportunity possible to learn and grow.

The most exciting part about AOSA at SCO is that you are all members! You are automatically enrolled as a member because the college pays your dues for you. So, you already have access to all of the incredible benefits that AOSA has to offer! I’m so excited for you to get to experience all of the wonderful aspects of the AOSA, here at SCO, and on a national level.

If you have any questions about the AOSA, please do not hesitate to reach out!

Zach Groves zgroves@sco.edu AOSA Trustee Jessica Cummings jessicajones@sco.edu AOSA Trustee-Elect

BETA SIGMA KAPPA Congratulations to the class of 2026! On behalf of our school’s chapter of Beta Sigma Kappa, welcome to the Southern College of Optometry!

Beta Sigma Kappa was founded in 1925 by a small group of optometrists in Illinois. BSK now has student chapters in every school and college of optometry in the United States, with two in Canada, and one in Puerto Rico. Membership in BSK is by way of invitation to those students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher at the culmination of each academic year, and membership in BSK is for life.

BSK supports and works with student chapters to develop programs that foster academic excellence. Our mission is to stimulate scientific attainment, the ethical practice of optometry, and to provide financial support for worthy research projects relating to vision care and the eyes.

The SCO chapter of BSK organizes mock practicals for 1 st and 2nd year students to help them anticipate what real practicals will be like. In addition to mock practicals, BSK is also involved in blood drives, maintaining study guide resources for students, and voting on annual teacher of the year awards.

Membership in BSK is an honor, and I look forward to seeing each of you in just a few short weeks!

Best, Addy Adkisson President, Beta Sigma Kappa Class of 2024

2020-21 Faculty of the Year BSK TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

CLINICAL Dr. Esla Speth ‘10 DIDACTIC Dr. Scott Ensor ‘01

CONTACT LENS SOCIETY

Welcome Class of 2026 ~ Deciding which organizations to become involved in is one of many important and exciting decisions which lie ahead. Fortunately, SCO has a wide assortment of clubs, organizations and programs designed to fit every interest.

Contact Lens Society’s goal is to provide education, information, and hands-on experience to anyone interested in learning more about the world of contact lenses. Guest speakers from SCO faculty, other doctors, and industry representatives are invited to share cases and the latest developments in the field, with an emphasis on making meetings interactive.

I invite you to check out what the Contact Lens Society has to offer! Feel free to email me at eseuferer@sco.edu with any questions or suggestions. Congratulations on starting your new adventure!

Enjoy every moment getting to know Memphis, SCO, and the field of optometry!

Emily Seuferer, Class of 2024

Emily Seuferer ~ President Payton Ranck ~ Vice President Samantha Thompson ~ Treasurer Weronika Przepiora ~ Secretary

Dr. Christina Newman ~ Faculty Advisor

COVD COVD Is an International organization that focuses on Improving visual function with vision therapy. Vision therapy Is commonly prescribed to treat binocular vision disorders, strabismus, double vision, dyslexia, strokes, and head Injuries. It retrains the brain to help patients see more efficiently with less stress on their visual system. Using evidence-based research, vision therapists change the lives of their patients every day.

As a student organization, we aim to educate and excite students about vision therapy. During each meeting, we hear from vision therapy specialists from across the country who treat children, adults, and even professional athletes, In their practices.

Along with meetings, we hold school-wide fundraisers throughout the year like Boo Pops at Halloween, selling Pediatric Equipment Packs, and the VT Olympics!

https://www.covd.org/

Follow us!!! @sco_covd

2022-23 Exec Board President Emily Faccin Vice President Kara Detsch Secretary Elizabeth Beers Treasurer Emily Kyle Student Liaison/ Social Media Kelsey Daberkow

Fall Semester Meetings 9/1 @6pm - Org Fair 9/19 @6:30pm (E/W Classroom) 10/17 @6:30pm (E/W Classroom) 10/23 4:30 - 6:30 pm (Atrium) - VT Olympics 11/14 @6:30pm (E/W Classroom) Meals provided at each meeting with payment of dues!

Got any questions?

Email our President! efaccin@sco.edu

WELCOME TO SCO! The members of Gamma Omicron welcome you to the SCO family!

Congratulations on entering this exciting new chapter.

We can’t wait to meet you and walk alongside you in this journey.

GAMMA OMICRON A student organization dedicated to promoting and educating women in optometry

OUR GOAL Our goal in Gamma Omicron is to empower and uplift women in optometry. We hold meetings and events to provide opportunities to learn from successful and inspiring women that are making a difference in the optometry community.

Instagram: gammaomicron_sco

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESDIENT Our meetings are open to everyone, and we would love to have you as part of our club.

We can’t wait to get to know you!

Sincerely, Madi Schell, Class of 2024 mschell@sco.edu

Dear Class of 2026, On behalf of Gold Key Optometric Honor Society, welcome to Southern College of Optometry!

You are about to embark on a very exciting chapter, and we congratulate you on this step forward in your academic professional career. It is my sincere hope that these next four years are filled with experiences that contribute to your personal and professional growth.

The mission of Gold Key is to recognize optometry students who demonstrate outstanding leadership to their college and profession. Membership to Gold Key is limited to 10% of the graduating class. The American Optometric Association recognizes Gold Key membership as “the highest honor for leadership a student of optometry can achieve”.

Rising fourth years are chosen for membership by their peers based on contributions they have made through the profession and school. Although the honor of Gold Key membership may feel far into the future, the evaluation for candidacy is happening every day as you interact with other members of your class, and within the SCO and Memphis communities.

Our institution offers a wide array of extracurricular organizations which will undoubtedly benefit from your active involvement. I encourage you to get involved in organizations and activities that spark your passions. The meetings, projects, and trips will impact your perspective and may even change your life. It is these experiences outside the classroom that you will vividly remember in May 2025 when you walk across the commencement stage and are welcomed as a Doctor of Optometry! I wish you the best of luck in your academic, professional, and personal pursuits. Please feel free to reach out with any questions regarding Gold Key. Welcome to SCO!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fleischman, Class of 2023 Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society President kfleischman@sco.edu

INTRAMURALS Welcome Class of 2026! Do you love sports but don’t know how to get involved? Join us at SCO in playing Intramural Sports!

• We offer several sports that you can get involved in! In the 2021-2022 school year, we had Volleyball in the Fall Semester and Basketball in the Spring Semester.

• Depending on interest, we may also have Indoor Soccer, Flag Football, and a Softball/Kickball Tournament! We try to have sports going on yearround.

• All sports are FREE to students and spouses if they wish to play. Prior exposure to the sport is not required and all skill-levels are welcome!

We will notify when sign-ups are starting! If you have any questions, feel free to email me, Mallory, at mpeyton@sco.edu

Class of 2026, Welcome to SCO! On behalf of the SCO Lions Club, I would like to congratulate you on your acceptance.

What is Lions Clubs International?

The SCO Lions Club represents one of 47,000 Lions clubs in the world. We are a service organization with 1.4 million members in over 200 countries.

Shortly after its inception in 1917, the organization targeted its efforts towards serving the blind and visually impaired. We also serve to fight diabetes and hunger, support families plagued by cancer, and protect and restore the environment.

What does the SCO Lions Club do?

Our club, which was founded in February of 2004, has participated in various vision screenings and fundraising events throughout the years, like the Hamilton Eye Institute 5k run, pecan sales, Leader Dogs for the Blind, and the Nerf Gun War fundraiser. We also serve patients in The Eye Center by financially sponsoring their vision care and services with the money we raise.

As Lions, we are continually changing our programs to meet new needs and greater demands, but our mission has never wavered: “WE SERVE!”

Join us!

We hope you take this invitation to join this amazing international organization. Become a Lion, not just for your time here at SCO, but for life.

We need you, and more importantly, people in our community need you.

Once again, welcome to SCO! Sincerely, Peter Anderton Class of 2024 Lions Club President

Dear Class of 2026, Welcome to SCO and congratulations on choosing optometry as your future career! We hope you will consider joining us in

Low Vision Club It is in every optometry student’s best interest to be familiar with low vision solutions and community resources to help patients make the most of their remaining vision The demand for low vision optometrists is increasing as the population lives longer. Some of your future patients will have permanently reduced vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery. While vision loss can be devastating, it's NOT a dead-end for a patient's life.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely, Tori Pierce, Class of 2024 tpierce@sco.edu Low Vision Club President

Our Goals: • Raise awareness about low vision services • Connect with resources in the community • Expand and improve the services we offer patients

Past Meeting Topics: • Adaptive sports • Introduction to low vision devices • Paint night with low vision simulation goggles • Contact lenses in low vision • Accessibility marketing • Partnering with Lion’s Club for Leader Dogs for the Blind • Partnering with Lion’s Club for Dining in the Dark

NORA: Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association Class of 2026, 2022-23 Officers: President: Emily Faccin ‘24 Vice President: Carolina Slater ‘25 Secretary: Tori Pierce ‘24 Treasurer: Katie Perez ‘24

Congratulations and welcome to SCO!!

NORA at SCO is part of a national organization focused on assisting people who have experienced neurological damage. One distinguishing aspect of this organization is that it is interdisciplinary, involving optometrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals that collaborate to rehabilitate patients in need.

Visual problems are often overlooked during initial treatment of a brain injury and a regular eye exam often does not reveal the extent that the visual process has been affected. Individuals who have experienced some sort of neurological insult or injury, and who are experiencing visual symptoms, can benefit from a vision assessment from a NeuroOptometric Rehabilitation Optometrist, an eye care professional who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of neurological conditions adversely affecting the visual system.

NORA international is devoted to: Increasing public and professional awareness and understanding of the need for Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation services, as well as to encourage an interdisciplinary team approach to care for patients suffering from acquired and traumatic brain injuries.

Questions? Email me: efaccin@sco.edu Emily Faccin, NORA President 2022-2023

National Optometric Student Association WELCOME CLASS OF 2026!

On behalf of NOSA, we would like to congratulate you on your acceptance to SCO. We look forward to meeting you all!

NOSA is an international service organization comprised of students across the country who are dedicated to increasing access to eye care for minority and under-served communities. Our goals are furthering the professional development of its student members, serving the greater Memphis area, and increasing the diversity in the profession of optometry by enhancing the recruitment and retention of minority students. NOSA is open to ALL students that want to make a difference!

NOSA hosts many events at SCO throughout the academic year. In addition to general body meetings, where we have a variety of speakers on different topics, we host Faculty Feud, SCO's Got Talent, and a Spanish class with a focus on performing an eye exam. We also participate in community service events, provide mentorship to high school students, and have fundraisers.

We would love if you joined us at NOSA! Good luck with your journey and have fun!

Sincerely, Your 2022-2023 NOSA Executive Board

Questions?

Email JoAnndria Brown at jobrown@sco.edu

Welcome Class of 2026!

President: Raphael Sahayaraj Vice President: Maria Witcher Secretary: Amanda Raffa Treasurer: Emily Meredith Questions?

Email rsahayaraj@sco.edu

First meeting is FREE for all students.

OPTOMETRIC PRIVATE PRACTICE CLUB FIRST MEETING: SEPTEMBER 20, 2022

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 CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!

As President of the Optometric Private Practice Club, I want to warmly welcome you to Southern College of Optometry. SCO is the leader in private practice preparedness, and I am so excited for you all to experience what this school has to offer.

Private practice optometry has deep roots in our profession and has long shown the greatest potential for earnings and satisfaction. This year, OPP offers an outlet of resources and a community of like-minded people, including the leaders of our field. Whether you want to simply learn more about what it entails, or build preparedness to start your own practice, this club is the perfect place to do it. We hold monthly meetings hosted by widely known speakers, and starting this year, we will also hold regular interviews with private practice doctors addressing topics of interest and to hear about their stories!

OPP provides great networking and leadership opportunities, and is a great way to learn from the leaders in our field. We hope you’ll join us at our first meeting on September 20th. Best of luck as you begin your time here at SCO! Questions? Email Amanda Soukup at asoukup@sco.edu

SCOPE Welcome Class of 2026!!

Congratulations on starting your optometric career and joining the SCO Family! I am excited that you have chosen SCO and look forward to meeting you soon.

SCOPE is the name of our SCO Yearbook. Each year, SGA sponsors the yearbook for students interested in receiving one. The staff and I work to capture the memories and experiences that shape the student experience here at SCO. We work closely with the SCO Communications Department, which provides professional photos from the various mainstream SCO events and serve as advisors to the yearbook staff. Anyone is welcome to apply to be a part of the SCOPE Yearbook Staff and prior experience on a yearbook staff or in an editor position is not required.

So, how do you get involved with SCOPE? Each year a new SCOPE editor and staff members are selected. Typically, the applications are released during the Fall semester. As first year students, you can apply for the Editor or Staff positions when the applications are released.

The SCOPE Yearbook Staff hopes that you have a great first year and encourages you to get involved! Being involved will enhance your experience at SCO and create memories you will cherish forever. If you have any questions about what we do or how to get involved, please email me at arobinson@sco.edu.

Best Wishes,

Aimee Robinson SCOPE Editor 2022-2023

Spectrum Welcome Class of 2026!

Our Mission

The mission of Spectrum at the Southern College of Optometry is to create a school community where all students, faculty, and staff members feel welcome and supported, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We also seek to provide a voice for those who have lost theirs and to promote equality and diversity through social gatherings, community outreach, and campus wide activities.

Join The Email List

To be added to the email list, email Payton Ranck at pranck@sco.edu

Our Plans

Plans for this club include both social and community service projects. Our current plans include our pronoun pin sale, guest speakers, and joint meetings with other clubs at SCO and even other schools!

History

Spectrum was founded at SCO in the Spring of 2017.

The founding members saw the need for an LGBTQ community for staff, faculty, and students. Since forming the club we have had any great speakers including alumni, staff, and representatives from CHOICES and Out Memphis.

2022-2023 Club Officers

President: Vice President: Secretary: Treasurer: New Member:

Payton Ranck ‘24 Madison Bailey ‘24 Brianna Aheimer ‘25 Kylie Kaylor-Hix ‘25 YOU!!! And YOU, TOO!!!

A Word From The President

Hi y’all! Spectrum is so excited for the upcoming year.

Having a support system is very important in school and we hope to be a part of yours! We are hoping to restore the community that the group had pre-covid with lots of activities and opportunities to get to know each other. Our goal is to have a blast while spreading our message of diversity and inclusivity. We hope to see you soon!

-Payton Ranck She/her/hers

Welcome Class of 2026!

SPHVICA aims to unite the field of optometry with the field of public health.

In optometry, we help individual patients with their vision and eye health.

Public health allows us to examine the way our healthcare system, communities, environment, and other factors play a role in our patients’ lives and affect their well-being. We believe that all aspects of health are interconnected – and that through a better understanding of public health, we can be better optometrists and advocates for our patients.

CLUB OFFICERS President: Madison Bailey Vice President: Carolina Slater Secretary: Claire Vinson Treasurer: Maddy Scheibe Social Media Chair: Dorcas Owusu Faculty Advisor: Dr. Wolfe

Throughout the school year, we have a variety of events engaging students. This includes guest speakers on various public health topics from nutrition to infectious disease control, celebrating National Public Health Week in April, and much more.

We have many amazing things planned for this year and hope to see you at our meetings!

Dear Class of 2026, Welcome to SCO! We are glad you’re joining us this fall. With many of you moving to a new city or a new state, we know it can be a big transition. Your life in Memphis the next four years will be full of fun times and challenges. We want to make sure you feel connected while here at SCO, and one way to do that is to join a State Club. There are around 20 State Clubs which are full of members who either call the state home or want to practice there in the future. We hope you get involved! Stop by our booth at the student organization fair to sign up.

Benefits of joining a State Club: • Connect with students from your home state or the state where you want to work • Network with doctors who know what it is like to practice in a certain state • Find mentors to guide you through your optometric career Any specific questions or inquiries about different State Clubs can be sent to nvemula@sco.edu.

Once again, welcome to SCO! We are looking forward to seeing you at the organization fair and also at our school-wide State Day event on January 11th, 2023!

Sincerely, Nithya Vemula State Clubs Coordinator

SVOSH

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN OPTOMETRIC SERVICE TO HUMANITY What we do: Spend the year collecting glasses and fundraising to prepare for trips to various countries in Central and South America. Provide comprehensive eye care to those with limited access to healthcare!

Why YOU should join: Further your optometric skills, gain the opportunity to learn about different cultures, connect with peers and current doctors, have a rewarding and memorable experience serving others!

2022 Belize Trip Statistics: - 892 patients examined - 839 prescription glasses dispensed o 60 pairs of sunglasses - 356 new pathology diagnoses - 192 referrals for follow-up care Come see us at the organization fair!

Countries we’ve traveled to: Belize Bolivia Columbia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Mexico and more!

Class of 2026, Congratulations and welcome to SCO! The Sports Vision Society is dedicated to developing an advanced understanding of vision and how it can be leveraged to enhance visual performance.

Vision is more than 20/20.

It is a dynamic and learned process through which we derive meaning and direct action.

We invite students interested in helping their patients get the most out of their vision to join us – interest in athletics is in no way a requirement. Concepts developed at these meetings will extend further than any one sport. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely, Tori Pierce, Class of 2024 tpierce@sco.edu SVS President

Previous Meetings: • Sports vision screenings at local colleges • Basics of the Sports Vision Pyramid and how to apply it to your practice • Life as a professional sports team OD • Developments in neural mechanisms underlying perception and direction of action • Leveraging contact lenses and glasses for enhanced visual performance