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Victoria Arellano
Essex County College
Newark, N.J.

Since her 18th birthday, Arellano has been supporting herself through school. Receiving her licensure as an optician will enable her to work fulltime while pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Portuguese at Rutgers University in Newark, N.J.

While working as an apprentice for the past two years, Arellano has volunteered for the Gift of Sight Program and the Lions Eye Banks of New Jersey.

Arellano said, “My profession in Ophthalmic Dispensing began unintended, but led to a true passion for the technology of lens manufacturing. For the past two years, I have been employed at a major competitor in the eyewear market and hold a supervising title at my office. Working at this retailer/pharmacy has nurtured my communication skills as well as the technical skills I have studied throughout my degree.”

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “There is no other way to describe her. She is the kind of student that every dedicated teacher would want.”

Siobhan Gross
Middlesex Community College
Middletown, Conn.

Working as a sales associate in a retail optical shop, Gross realized how much she loved the optical field.

“It still is so amazing to me all of the things that I have encountered in this field, and how much I have learned, especially through my courses the past few years.”

At school, Gross served as a Laboratory Clinic Manager at the College Optical Clinic. Currently, she is serving as a Clinical Fellow in Contact Lenses at Consulting Ophthalmologists in Farmington, Conn. Here, she is getting hands-on experience in contact lens fitting.

She will be taking the Connecticut State practical exams this month, and will be moving to Newport News, Va. by the end of the year, where she plans to get a Master’s Degree in Health Care Management.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “She has been an advocate and unofficial tutor for several of her classmates.”

Laura Huffman
Hillsborough Community College,
Tampa, Fla.

Huffman served as President of Hillsborough Community College’s Opticianry Organization and also served as the college’s representative to the National Federation of Opticianry Schools’ College Bowl.

A glasses-wearer herself since the age of seven, she has always been interested in eyewear. Now that she is an optician, she finds great joy in helping the customers with such a necessary aspect of their life--vision.

“I have always liked helping people and I believe providing them with quality products to help them see is quite rewarding. My favorite is always helping the kids that come in and have to get glasses.”

In the next year, Huffman plans on sitting for the Florida State Boards and possibly helping out at the opticianry program at Hillsborough Community College.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “Laura is the outstanding female graduate from the Hillsborough Community College Opticianry Program.”
 
Nancy Jarin
Roane State Community College,
Harriman, Tenn.

Jarin was elected Opticianry Student of the Year, by her classmates, representing her school at the 2008 National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) College Bowl competition in New York City at Vision Expo East, and winner of this year’s Essilor CRP Award.

While in school, Jarin performed community serviced related to the eyecare field and she noted that her favorite aspect of being an optician is helping others.

“Whether it’s an eyeglass adjustment, helping patients to better understand their prescription, choosing which eyewear is best for them, or helping them to insert and remove their contact lenses, it is very satisfying just knowing that I have helped someone.”

She is currently working for Sears Optical and Target Optical, and she plans to continue working as an optician in the future.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “She is definitely a next-generation leader!”

Kathie Kazdin
Cuyahoga Community College
Cleveland, Ohio

A recent graduate of Cuyahoga Community College’s Optical Technology Program, Kazdin managed to complete school while working full-time and raising a family. After completing her clinical experience at Park Opticians, a highly-reputable, family-owned optical shop with two locations in the Greater Cleveland area, she was hired by the business. She has now been there for over a year and is very happy with her work.

“I’m learning more each day and hope to continue to help produce quality items for our customers to use and enjoy.”

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “While in the program, Ms. Kadzin showed wonderful time management skills, and she was an inspiration to those around her.”


Amy Malone
Seattle Central Community College School of Opticianry
Seattle, Wash.

Malone, a 37-year-old mother of two, managed to balance work and family life with her school schedule, becoming a top student. As the president of SCCC’s Scholastic Opticians Society, where she helped raise money to send students to the Opticians Association of Washington conventions.

She finds that the industry has suited her extremely well. “I enjoy the interaction with people, the fashion component, and the science...it plays perfectly into my personality and interests.”

Malone plans to become optical manager at the private OD practice where she is currently employed. She is starting an Alumni Association for Seattle Central’s School of Opticianry, which “will provide networking for graduates as well as fundraising to support the program and students.”

She plans to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Optical Business Management and eventually open up her own dispensary.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “...she has always been a positive influence.”

Cassia Niemotko
Raritan Valley Community College,
Somerville, N.J.

Entering the optician program at 17 years of age, Niemotko completed the difficult curriculum in two years of full-time study while maintaining a steady job, making a lasting, positive impression on her professors along the way. She credits her professors, who, she said, “took the time to assist me in areas where I needed extra help,” for giving her the opportunity to begin enjoying opticanry work.

“It is a very fulfilling job to be able to assist people in improving their vision. There is a multitude of different opportunities that allow you to both deal with the public and/or deal with the mechanics and technicalities of fabricating a pair of glasses.”

In the future, Niemotko plans on becoming a licensed optician. She is now working at Optical Options in East Randolph N.J., and hopes to be ready to take the State Board Exam this fall.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “We are sure that she will have a most successful career in her new profession. It is a forgone conclusion that she will be a leader of opticianry soon.”

Vanessa Rivera
Broward Community College
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

As a single mother, Vanessa Rivera was wary of going to school to enter the optical program at Broward Community College. Once she started, however, she found immense support from her community and remained driven to complete the challenge.

“I tried hard and grew personally in the optical program at Broward Community College. I overcame obstacles and stayed with it no matter how many times I wanted to quit. Our professors were awesome and the support I received from my co-workers and the doctors is what kept me going, along with the drive to better myself for my daughter and me.”

Rivera plans to use the knowledge she has gained and continue her education. She plans to get a bachelors degree and eventually go to optometry school.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “Vanessa is a wonderful student.”

Megan Smith
Erie Community College
Williamsville, NY.

At the time of her entrance into Erie Community College, Smith was a 27-year-old single mother of two twin girls. She managed to graduate with honors and became a member of the international honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. She was also a tutor for the physics department and she helped a professor run a class for high school students.

Previously working for JCPenney Optical, Smith has recently started working as an optician and contact lens fitter at Eye Care and Vision Associates, a private ophthalmology practice with four different locations in Western New York.

“Right now, the most rewarding part of my job is when a patient picks up their glasses and they say, ‘Wow, I can see now!’” she said.

Smith plans to get married this July. “It has been a wonderful and very busy two and half years, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world.”

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “Megan demonstrates dedication, commitment, and strong leadership qualities.”

Elyse Turner
Indiana University School of
Optometry Optician/Technician Program,
Bloomington, Ind.

Recipient of the “Technician of the Year Award,” Turner was an active and excellent student at IU, working for an optometrist in the summer of 2007 and then as a lab teaching-assistant in the ophthalmic dispensing class in the spring of 2008.

“I have been wearing glasses since the third grade so becoming an optician/technician just seemed to fit. I can relate to the patients on a more personal level.”

Currently, Turner works in a private practice, she is still enrolled as a full-time student and she hopes to become an ophthalmic assistant. Although she noted that it has been difficult balancing the schedules of school and work, she remains positive. “Being an Optician/Technician has been a very rewarding experience.”

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “She possesses an exemplary professional attitude and ethical foundation. Elyse will be an asset to the profession and we are proud to have her as a graduate.”

Yuliya Zhukova
New York City College of Technology,
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Holding a Bachelor’s degree in creative writing from CUNY Brooklyn College, Zhukova began her optical career as an eyewear consultant for Lens Crafters. She soon became interested in opticianry and enrolled at the New York City College of Technology, Vision Care Technology Department, where she graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing.

“When I got to school, I saw that there was so much more to the world of ophthalmic dispensing than I had imagined,” she said.

Zhukova made the Dean’s Honor List every semester maintaining a GPA of 3.79. She is the recipient of two distinguished awards, the Philip L. Salvatori Contact Lens Theory Award and the New York State Society of Opticians Future of Opticianry Scholarship.

Zhukova hopes to become involved in management as well as frame design.

HER SCHOOL SAYS: “Since enrolling in the program, Ms. Zhukova excelled to the top of her class.”




Today’s Students Say...

“I overcame obstacles and stayed with it no matter how many times I wanted to quit.”

“...it is very satisfying just knowing that I have helped someone.”

“It is still so amazing to me all of the things that I have encountered in this field, and how much I have learned...”

“I’m learning more each day...”

“It is a very fulfilling job to be able to assist people on improving their vision.”

“...the most rewarding part of my job is when a patient picks up their glasses and they say, ‘Wow, I can see now!’”

“Being an Optician/Technician has been a very rewarding experience.” ■