NSUCO - The Visionary Fall 2010

the VISIONARY • Summer/Fall 2010 # NSUCOReceives Five STUEY Nominations B Y B ARBARA K ARPEL , M.S., D IRECTOR OF A DMINISTRATION , A SSOCIATE E DITOR , T HE V ISIONARY The 11 th Annual NSU Student Life Achievement Awards, affec- tionately known as the STUEYS, were celebrated on April 20, 2010. As the Division of Student Affairs describes them, the STUEYS are “a celebration of NSU’s best in inclusion, leadership, scholarship, service, integrity, commitment, and involvement.” Nominations of students, employees, and corporate partners are sought from every sector of the university, and a committee is charged with selecting five finalists in each category. The winners are selected by a second committee, comprised in part of the president and chancellor of the university. This year, the College of Optometry had five finalists in four categories― an achievement for which these individuals deserve kudos and accolades: Student of the Year Michelle Levin has been an active participant in the college’s Stu- dent Government Association (SGA) since her matriculation in 2007. She has been an instrumental leader of the Florida Opto- metric Student Association, promoting the optometric profession among her peers but also in Tallahassee with legislators. An excel- lent organizer and former radio station disc jockey who is a skilled marketing professional, Michelle remains involved, committed, inclusive, and dedicated to her studies, her class, the SGA, the Col- lege of Optometry, and the optometric profession. NSU Graduate Organization of the Year Since its establishment in 1997, the Student Volunteers in Opto- metric Service to Humanity (SVOSH ) has provided eye care to individuals who are underserved due to their remote habitats and economic conditions. SVOSH receives donations of used eye- glasses and distributes them during mission trips to indigenous populations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South Amer- ica. While the SVOSH members hold fund-raising events to pay for these mission trips, students often have to fund a good portion of the travel expenses themselves. In 2010, this service organiza- tion and its faculty mentors volunteered their time in Ica, Peru, which had been impacted by an 8.0 magnitude earthquake in 2007. NSU Administrator of the Year Fran Franconeri , the college’s admissions counselor, was selected as a STUEY finalist in 2010 for the second consecutive year. Although Fran works for the university’s Office of Admissions, we consider her to be one of our own. Fran’s dedication, commit- ment, and guidance have won the hearts of many NSU hopefuls. She communicates often and well with applicants and makes the application process less stressful for them. With her sympathetic ear, caring nature, and gentle leadership, Fran contributes to the professional growth of both students and peers, while ensuring that our classes are composed of the most qualified candidates. Barbara Karpel, M.S. , has been with the College of Optometry for nearly 15 years. She fulfills many functions, ranging from manag- ing the operations and budgets of the college’s administrative offices and its eight support staff members, to serving as a recruiter at optometric conferences. She serves on several uni- versity committees, such as the Employee Relations Committee in the role of co-chair, multiple search committees for Enrollment and Student Services, and the Stewardship Council, which over- sees the management of funds received as donations and contributions to college accounts. Karpel also is the associate edi- tor of The Visionary , serving as proofreader and editor as well as a contributor, and uses her conflict resolution skills to manage personal interactions and create a conflict-free environment. NSU Corporate Partner of the Year Vision Service Plan (VSP) , an insurance organization available to eye care professionals and their patients, is focused on vision care. A committed corporate sponsor to the college, VSP offers loans to new optometry graduates, annual sponsorships of stu- dent events, and educational speakers for the college. VSP also hosts dinners, workshops, and a speaker series for students. It recently developed a website, www.optoclubls.com , designed specifically for NSU’s Optometry Practice Management Associa- tion (NOPMA) students. M ICHELLE L EVIN AND R AY F ERRERO , J R ., J.D. B ARBARA K ARPEL , M.S., AND R AY F ERRERO , J R ., J.D. F RAN F RANCONERI AND R AY F ERRERO , J R ., J.D.