Awards

George Mertz New Educator Travel Award

The Mertz New Educator Travel Award originated in 2003 when AOCLE, at the annual meeting, elected to honor Dr. George Mertz for his strong support of optometric education. Earlier that year Dr. Mertz had unexpectedly passed away too early. George had been very active in his support of AOCLE as well as other educational initiatives in his role heading up the Academic Affairs Department for Vistakon.

In honor of Dr. George Mertz, AOCLE funds the travel and meeting expenses of one new contact lens educator to attend the annual AOCLE meeting and workshop. The nominated educator must have a significant role in the contact lens program at the affiliated school or college of optometry and have not attended an AOCLE workshop previously. An application supporting an educator’s nomination should be prepared by the contact lens clinic chief from that person’s school or college. The executive committee then selects candidates to receive the award. See attachment for more information.

Award Recipients
Eligibility Document for G. Mertz Award (pdf )
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2025 – Amber Nichols – University of Houston, College of Optometry

2024 – William Skoog – Illinois College of Optometry

2023 – Chris Albright – Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry

2022 – Samantha Myers – University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry

2019 – Jessica Tu – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

2018 – Nekima Williams – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry

2017 – Elaine Chen – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University

2016 – John Gialousakis – State University of New York College of Optometry
Chad Rosen – Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry

2015 – Alex Nixon – The Ohio State University, College of Optometry
Pam Satjawatcharaphong – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2014 – Lacey Haines – University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

2013 – Chandra Mickles – University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry
Kelvin Tang – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2012 – Amy Dinardo – Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry
Nikki Rai – University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science
Christina Newman – Southern College of Optometry

2011 – Kathryn Richdale – The Ohio State University, College of Optometry

2010 – Annie Chang – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Aaron Zimmerman – The Ohio State University, College of Optometry

2009 – Frederic Gagnon – University of Montreal, École d Optométrie
Dawn Lam – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Peter Kolbaum – Indiana University, School of Optometry

2008 – Nicky Lai – The Ohio State University, College of Optometry
Eunice Myung Lee – Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Mika Moy – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2007 – Matt Lampa – Pacific University, College of Optometry

2006 – Jason Chin – New England College of Optometry
Josh Lotoczky – Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry

2005 – Jean-Sebastien Dufour – University of Montreal, École d Optométrie
Earlena McKee – Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry

2004 – Wanda Lam – Illinois College of Optometry
Sri Thota – University of Houston, College of Optometry

Harue J. Marsden New Educator Travel Award

In 2017, the AOCLE membership voted to establish the Harue J. Marsden New Educator Travel Award at the annual meeting. Dr. Marsden had passed away earlier that year after a long battle with cancer. She was a Professor and Associate Dean of Clinical Education at the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) at Marshall B. Ketchum University in Fullerton, California. Dr. Marsden was a contact lens educator and devoted member of the AOCLE, and the association wanted to honor her contribution to the AOCLE and profession by inviting a new contact lens educator to attend their first AOCLE workshop. This opportunity would help a novice CL educator, who otherwise would not be able to attend, network with other educators from all the North American schools and colleges of optometry.

This award was created in honor of Dr. Harue Marsden, a devoted member of the AOCLE. AOCLE funds the travel and meeting expenses of one new contact lens educator to attend the annual AOCLE meeting and workshop. The nominated educator must have a significant role in the contact lens program at the affiliated school or college of optometry and have not attended an AOCLE workshop previously. An application supporting an educator’s nomination should be prepared by the contact lens clinic chief from that person’s school or college. The executive committee then selects candidates to receive the award. See attachment for more information.

Award Recipients
Eligibility Document for Harue J. Marsden Award (pdf )
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2025 – Ellie Crossman – Indiana University, School of Optometry

2024– Jeffrey Kong – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2023 – Sam Lee – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2022 – Karen Lee – University of Houston, College of Optometry

2019 – Celia Gong – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2018 – Kate McClure – The Ohio State University, College of Optometry

AOCLE Memorial New Educator Travel Grant Award

The AOCLE Memorial Award was established in 2021 to honor the memories of all the AOCLE leaders who are no longer with us.  This travel grant award is to be presented annually to a young contact lens optometric educator of the AOCLE who has demonstrated potential leadership in contact lens education. One application per school, must be first time AOCLE workshop attendee.

Award Recipients
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2024 – Nicholas Onken – University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry

2023 – Jessica Walter – University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry

Lester Janoff Memorial Award

This award was established by AOCLE in 2007 to honor Dr. Lester E. Janoff, an exceptional optometric educator, administrator, contact lens clinician and researcher. His professional career encompassed private practice, contact lens research for industry, and contact lens education at three optometry schools (Pennsylvania College of Optometry, New England College of Optometry and Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry). He was a Diplomate in the Cornea and Contact lens Section of the American Academy of Optometry and Associate Dean of NSUCO. Most importantly, this award was established to honor the memory of a beloved optometric mentor and friend.

This award is presented to an AOCLE member who has demonstrated excellence in the area of contact lens-related publications, contact lens education, and research. The criteria for the award include publications in refereed journals, textbooks or textbook chapters, and active participation in AOCLE events, past or present. Ideally, the recipient will show a broad range of contributions in the above areas with accomplishments that have had a positive impact upon our profession. Nominations should be submitted electronically to Dr. Andrea Janoff (NOVA) at janoffa@nova.edu. See attachment for more information.

Award Recipients
Eligibility Document for L. Janoff Award (pdf)
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2025 – Jason Jedlicka – Indiana University, School of Optometry

2022 – Jennifer Harthan – Illinois College of Optometry

2021 – Judy Perrigin (posthumously) – University of Houston, College of Optometry

2019 – Lyndon B Jones – University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

2018 – Bruce Morgan – Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry

2017 – Etty Bitton – University of Montreal, École d Optométrie

2016 – William (Bill) Edmondson – Southern College of Optometry

2015 – Heidi Wagner – Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry

2014 – Neil Pence – Indiana University, School of Optometry

2013 – Vinita Henry – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

2012 – Jan Jurkus – Illinois College of Optometry

2011 – Joel Silbert – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus at Drexel University

2010 – Langis Michaud – University of Montreal, École d Optométrie

2009 – Edward Bennett – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

2008 – Luigina Sorbara – University of Waterloo, School of Optometry and Vision Science

AOCLE Lifetime Achievement Award

This award is presented by the AOCLE to an optometric educator who has demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication to the organization over numerous years. This award is not presented annually. Nominations will be considered by the Executive committee. See attachment for criteria.

Award Recipients
Eligibility for Lifetime Achievement Award (pdf)
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2024 – Katherine Clore – University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry

2023 -Vinita Allee Henry – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

2022 – Etty Bitton – University of Montreal, École d Optométrie

2021 – Joel Silbert – Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus at Drexel University

2019 – Ed Bennett – University of Missouri-St. Louis, College of Optometry

2011 – Michael Harris – University of California, Berkeley, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science

2009 – Les Caplan – Secretary/Treasurer from 1984 to 1988,
Treasurer from 1988 to 1996 and then as
AOCLE consultant for many years after that.

Faculty Development Travel Grant

The AOCLE supports a faculty development program for contact lens (CL) faculty at the North American Schools & Colleges of Optometry. The purpose of the program is to encourage the development of CL faculty or CL programs for AOCLE member institutions; enhance the CL experience of optometry students in clinics or class; and increase the use of AOCLE faculty members as a resource for faculty or program development between CL programs at AOCLE member institutions. If you would like to submit a nominee or are interested in applying for the Faculty Development Grant, please submit your information electronically to the AOCLE Chair, Katherine Clore, at kclore@uab.edu.

Award Recipients
Eligibility Document for Travel Grant (pdf)
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2011 – Luigina Sorbara – Travel support for sabbatical

2008 – Etty Bitton (Montreal) – Travel assistance to BCLA meeting for presentation

2007 – Jan Jurkus (ICO) – Travel assistance to Scotland and Australia for sabbatical

2006 – Etty Bitton (Montreal) – Travel assistance to University of Waterloo during sabbatical

2002 – Des Fonn (Waterloo) – Travel assistance

1998 – Des Fonn (Waterloo) – Travel assistance