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  Allyson Campman
J. Sargeant Reynolds
Community College
Richmond, Va. 

Campman served five years active duty and now is a SSgt (E-5) in the Air Force Reserves.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College while pursuing a chemistry degree at Northern Virginia Community College and working a full-time opticianry job. At Reynolds, Campman managed to remain at the top of her class while completing her work via distance learning because she did not live near campus.

Campman’s husband is also on active duty in the Air Force. The couple has relocated to Fort Meade, Md. Campman said she would love to
further her education and become an optometrist.

Her School Says... “She has faced many challenges.

  Lisa Dejulio
Indiana University of Optometry
Optician/Technician Program
Bloomington, Ind. 

When the time came after her sophomore year to declare a major, DeJulio researched her options and found opticianry suited her best.

IU’s opticianry program director said DeJulio worked comfortably in three different settings: the optical dispensary, a clinical setting and in the optical laboratory. DeJulio’s “absolute favorite” would be in a clinical setting working with patients. “I love helping people and the one-on-one interaction,” DeJulio said.

In May 2009, she completed the optician/technician program and will graduate in August with her Bachelors Degree. She hopes to stay close to home and pursue jobs locally.

Her School Says... Lisa shows great promise for a fulfilling and influential career.”


  Amy Easterlin
Middlesex Community College
Middleton, Conn

Easterlin, once a school teacher, decided she needed a change in careers. Recalling the pleasant experience she had while working for her optometrist during high school, she became curious and inquired about about the field. Eventually she decided opticianry was her next career.

Easterlin is ABO/NCLE certified. She served as clinic manager at the college’s optical clinic and completed a fellowship in contact lenses. The fellowship made her realize how CLs could impact someone’s life and said “you learn not to take vision for granted when you hear stories about how a patient can see the trees or the stars clearly for the first time.”

Although she does not want to forget her teaching background, right now she wants to get into contact lens fitting and possibly begin classes toward earning a PhD.

Her School Says... Amy was a finalist in the 2009 NFOS/Essilor College Bowl at Vision Expo East.”

  Hali Gibson
Roane State Community College
Harriman, Tenn. 
Gibson was the first generation college graduate in her family and said “attending college was a very important milestone in my life.”

She made the Dean’s List, was chosen for Who’s Who Among College Students and was selected to attend the NFOS College Bowl in NYC. She served as treasurer for the Student Optical Society and was honored as Opticianry Student of the Year, an award chosen by her fellow classmates and instructors.

She volunteered with Remote Area Medical, an organization that provides free health care in remotes areas of the U.S., and said she loved helping the people. “For someone to break down and cry because they can finally see for the first time in their life is worth it all.”

Her School Says... “She is the Opticianry Student of the Year.”

  Carole Loverso
Erie Community College
Williamsburg, N.Y. 
While working 40-plus hours a week, commuting to school and going through grueling ACL surgery and therapy, LoVerso was still able to graduate with a 4.0 GPA.

She expressed gratitude toward her teachers and classmates for the “genuine support” that helped her stay motivated and on track.

While working as an optical manager, she was able to apply her “real life experiences with fellow students and give them insight into the optical field.” She also participated in research projects about HIV in the optical field and glaucoma risks among Hispanics and African Americans.

LoVerso wants to obtain her masters degree in the health field, an ABOC masters degree and NCLE masters degrees. She will continue to work as an optical manager.

Her School Says... “Carole’s academic performance and professional participation is outstanding.”

  Nour Salameh
Cuyahoga Community College
Cleveland, Ohio 

Salameh managed to complete her degree while working full-time at her family’s restaurant, tutoring peers and sitting on the Cuyahoga Community College Optical Technology Advisory Committee as a student member. Given her hectic schedule, the only time to study was during work breaks, in the early morning or late at night.

She plans to continue her education to obtain either a degree as a physician’s assistant or to become an optometrist. This will help her obtain her ultimate goal to “help people feel and look better,” she said.

Her School Says... “Nour has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in everything that she does.”

  Geri Stacy
Raritan Valley Community College
North Branch, N.J 
Stacy is described as having an “ever-present ‘can do’ attitude that is most impressive and infectious.” She attributes this to the love for her chosen field in opticianry. “I find it exciting every time I can apply the ideas and formulas I have learned at school.”

What she enjoys most about her job, Stacy said, is helping patients see. “Everyone deserves to see the world around them and I find it rewarding that I can help them do this by using my expertise to create and fit glasses.”

Stacy plans to take her state dispenser exam and the NCLE exam. She also wants to increase her work with contact lenses. Ultimately, she wants to either manage or own her own office.

Her School Says... “Geri will succeed in all of her future endeavors.” ■