2026 Education Award Winners
Katelynn Edwards, OD*
Anna Beth Harris, OD
Hannah Walleck, OD
Alexander Rief, OD, MS
Juliann Rados, OD
*Larry Stoppel Award Winner
65th Annual Heart of America Eye Care Congress Awards
Fontana Scholarship Winner
John Luder
Vision Service Award
Lynn Lawrence
CMSgt, USAF (ret), MSOL, CPOT, ABOC, COA, OSC
OD of the Year
Jason Rogers, OD
EDUCATIONAL GRANTS AWARDED AT THE
64th ANNUAL HEART OF AMERICA EYE CARE CONGRESS
Five residents were selected to receive an award for outstanding poster for the 2025 meeting. These posters were recognized as having the highest rankings from our poster selection committee. The residents were awarded a $2,000 scholarship, free registration, free travel and accommodations at the Heart of America meeting. Congratulations to our poster winners!
(L-R) Scott Drake, OD (Past President), Nathan Patterson, OD, Mallory Wright, OD, Jordan Gott, OD, Rodnell Batac, OD, Shihij Takoo, OD, Eric Polk, OD (Education Director)
Congratulations to Dr. Shihij Takoo for receiving the Dr. Larry Stoppel Award for Excellent Poster! Dr. Takoo's poster was selected as the highest ranking poster of all posters submitted.
OD of the Year Award Winners
2022 – Robert Vandervort, OD
2018 – Ellen Weiss, O.D.
2013 – Leland Carr, O.D.
2012 – Ruth S. McAndrews, OD, F.V.I.
2010 – Joe Barr, OD, MS, FAAO
2009 – Lesley L. Walls, O.D. , M.D. , D.O.S.
2008 – William Cochran, O.D.
2007 – Bill Vietti, OD
2006 – Lee Ann Barrett, OD
2005 – Mike Nichols, OD
2004 – Dale Cole, OD
2003 – David Cockrell OD
2002 – Larry DeCook, OD
2001 – Dale Newland, OD
2000 – Donovan Crouch, OD
1999 – Peter Brungardt, OD
1998 – Donald J. Vanderfeltz, OD
1997 – Edmund Schneider, OD
1996 – Jack W. Melton, OD
1995 – Bobby Christensen, OD
1994 – J. Dallas Joyce, OD
1993 – David R. Reynolds, OD
1992 – Harry M. Sulzberger, OD
1991 – Doug Becherer, OD
1990 – Larry Harris, OD
1989 – Jim Nedrow, OD
1988 – Jim Kuhlman, OD
1987 – Frank Fontana, OD
1986 – V. E. Falkenhain, OD
1985 – N. Rex Ghormley, OD
1984 – David W. Hansen, OD
1983 – Harmon E. Wyett, OD
1982 – William Boelter, OD
Vision Service Award Winners
Rich Castillo, DO
2025 Vision Service Award Winner
2025 – Rich Castillo, DO
2023 – Larry Davis, O.D.
2022 – Steve Sutherlin
2019 – Joyce L. Urbeck
2018 – Alex Yoho, ABOM
2016 – Thomas Salmon, OD, PhD, FAAO
2013 – David S. McBride
2012 – Mitchell M Scheiman, O.D., FCOVD
2010 – Jim Morrison, OD, FAAO
2009 – Jack Hartstein, O.D. , M.D.
2008 – Richard Weisbarth, O.D. , F.A.A.O.
2007 – Sutherlin Optical
2006 – Saundra Gragg-Naifeh
2005 – SEE TO LEARN®
2004 – Zoe Lyle
2003 – Bud Bargman
2002 – George D. Foster, OD
2001 – Gary Robbins, CAE
2000 – John Amos, OD, MS
1999 – Virgil Deering
1998 – Stanley Y.Yamane, OD
1997 – Leslie Wall, OD, MD
1996 – Karla Zadnik, OD, PhD
1995 – Thomas L. Lewis, OD, PhD
1994 – John W. Potter, OD
1993 – Robert A. Koetting, OD
1992 – Jimmy D. Bartlett, OD
1991 – Earle Hunter, OD
1990 – Louis J. Catania, OD
1989 – Leroy Oxford, OD
1988 – Franklin Harms, OD
1987 – Irvin M. Borish, OD
1986 – Milton J. Eger, OD
1985 – Victor Chiquiar Arias, OD
1984 – Roger T. Kame, OD
1983 – Richard M. Hill, OD
1982 – Neal Bailey, OD
Fontana Scholarship Winners
Mora Boatman,
2025 Frank Fontana Scholarship Award Winner
2025 – Mora Boatman
2024 – Hannah Bollig
2023 – Aubry Tackett, OD
2022 – Brendan Mulqueeny, OD
2021 – Matthew J. Martinez, OD
2020 – Nicholas A. Holtzman, OD