Kim Raharja, OD ‘06, will be lecturing later this week as part of a series called Optometry Program for Fourth-Year Students. The series is being hosted by Alcon from March 11-14, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Raharja’s lecture is entitled, Key Tactics for Success. The series is intended for 100 optometry students who have been invited from all of the nation’s optometry schools.

The newspaper in Topeka, Kansas published an article about a long-time private practitioner who is retiring. Lance Eisenbarth, OD ‘09, is taking the reins at the practice. You may read the article here.

If you’re a graduate or friend of the college who sees an article or video profiling SCO alumni, please let us know by emailing alumni@sco.edu.

During the House of Delegates meeting at this year’s SECO 2010 meeting in Atlanta, several SCO alumni were honored and recognized:

• William Earle Malone, OD ‘69, was named SECO’s Optometrist of the South. Dr. Malone practices in Mississippi, where he was very active in the post-Hurricane Katrina effort to assist patients in need. SCO President Richard W. Phillips, OD ‘78, presented the award as Chair of the Awards Committee.

• William G. Hendrix, OD ‘55, pictured here with Jonathan Shrewsbury, OD ‘81, was recognized with a special resolution honoring his years of service to the profession and SECO. Dr. Hendrix has been very active in North Carolina’s leadership as well, and is a recipient of SCO’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

• Don E. Williamson, OD ‘67, was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Williamson has been active in Florida’s leadership, SECO, the military, and is a previous recipient of the AOA’s OD of the Year Award.

Congratulations to all of these alumni for their service, their leadership and for being role models within the profession and their communities.

SCO Board of Trustees member Bob Smalling, OD ‘74, was among those honored during the SECO 2010 meeting in Atlanta.

At the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry (ARBO) meeting during SECO, Dr. Smalling was recognized for his outstanding service and distinguished contributions to ARBO over his many years as chair of the ARBO Southern Regional Meeting.

Congratulations to Dr. Smalling for his well-deserved recognition.

SCO Professor Jim Newman, OD ‘73, reports that he’s enjoyed seeing a steady stream of visitors at the Heart of America Contact Lens Society meeting in Kansas City.

Dr. Newman is hosting SCO’s booth, #620. Traffic is still arriving to the show, so be sure to stop by and visit with Dr. Newman. He says that it’s been a great meeting with a lot of positive interaction with alumni and friends.

If you’re attending the HOACLS meeting and have photos to share, SCO would love to see them. Please email them to alumni@sco.edu.

Atlanta received nearly four inches of snow Friday afternoon and evening, but it didn’t seem to slow down SCO’s alumni and friends. Several hundred were in attendance at SCO’s Alumni Reception held at the Marriott Marquis this year.

Dr. Stan Dickerson introduced SCO’s President, Dr. Richard W. Phillips. In his remarks, Dr. Phillips encouraged alumni to rediscover and reconnect with their alma mater.

Several alumni who graduated the past few years were proudly showing off their newborn children, while graduates from as far back as the Class of 1948 enjoyed seeing old friends.

Elsewhere at SECO, an SCO graduate was named Optometrist of the South at the House of Delegates meeting. William E. Malone, OD ‘69, was announced as this year’s recipient by Dr. Phillips, Chair of SECO’s Awards Committee. Congratulations to Dr. Malone for his professional and civic accomplishments and for representing the profession of optometry with distinction.

A heavy, wet snow has descended upon Atlanta. The airport has closed, but at the Georgia World Congress, the activity at SECO 2010 goes on without missing a beat.

It’s like a reunion of sorts when SCO’s alumni get together. Lee Majakey, OD ‘83, and Jeff Bateman, OD ‘83, visited SCO’s booth earlier and enjoyed seeing old friends.

Many alumni are pleased to learn that five-year interval reunions return this fall, by popular demand, for SCO’s Fall Homecoming and CE weekend. Ronny Bowman, OD ‘95, liked the idea when he heard the news.

If you graduated in 2005, 1995, 1985, 1975, 1965 or 1955, plan on attending this fall! And if you graduated in 2000, 1990, 1980, 1970, 1960, or 1950, we hope to see you, too!

If you’re unable to attend SECO 2010, take a look at SCO’s SECO exclusive newsletter for alumni and friends.

This newsletter contains timely updates on SCO’s new Career Counseling Initiative, Placement Services, the Capstone Program, and other information.

Even with the threat of 1-3 inches of snow in Atlanta, SECO 2010 is off to a great start. SCO’s booth, #617, has attracted many alumni and friends of the college.

For many SCO graduates, SECO is the next best thing to a class reunion, with old classmates reconnecting. In fact, SCO’s theme this year encourages alumni to “Rediscover and Reconnect” with their alma mater.

• Jim Venable, OD ‘89, Executive Director for Clinical Programs, will be in the booth from 10:30-12:30.
• Dr. Rick Savoy from the faculty will be on hand from 12:30-2:30.
• Dr. Patricia Estes-Walker, SCO’s Director of Continuing Education, will be in the booth from 2:30-4:30, so come by and visit with them.

Members of SCO’s Institutional Advancement team are also on hand, along with President Phillips and Joe Hauser, Vice President for Student Services.

And don’t forget tonight’s Alumni Reception, to be held from 7-9 pm at the Marriott Marquis.

Alumni and friends of the college are encouraged to visit with SCO representatives at SECO 2010 in Atlanta.

Members of the Institutional Advancement team, the faculty and administration, as well as Alumni Council members, will be in SCO’s booth, #617. Join us on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 11, or anytime through the time of closing on Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Exhibition Hall.

SCO’s Alumni Reception will be held Friday night, Feb. 12., from 7-9 pm, at the International Level of the Marriott Marquis. Please note the new location this year.

If you’re not able to attend, look for updates via this blog or Facebook from SECO. We hope to see you there or in spirit!