2023 Eye Ball – Opticianry Program Celebration

June 12, 2023

The Opticianry Department and the Opticianry Association of Massachusetts (OAM) jointly hosted the 2023 Eye Ball at Franklin Cummings Tech, a fun-filled annual celebration of the Opticianry program and opticianry as a profession that brings together the Franklin Cummings Tech community, OAM members, corporate partners, industry leaders, and of course the many students and alumni of the Opticianry associate degree program.

“The Eye Ball is a great example of the supportive network within the optical industry and its connection to the college and the students,” said Professor Blair Wong, chair of the Opticianry Department.

The 10th annual event was held in a beautifully decorated Franklin Cummings Tech auditorium with over 125 attendees, including Franklin Cummings Tech President and CEO Aisha Francis and Board Chair Turahn Dorsey, Dr. Howard Purcell, President and CEO of New England College of Optometry, and more than 40 alumni and their families.

The formal program featured a welcome by President Francis and Opticians Association of America (OAA) Immediate Past President Dibby Bartlett, as well as an address by Gary Peters, OAM legislative committee member and state licensing board member.

The 2023 event, due to the pandemic, was the first Eye Ball since 2019, and celebrated the 17 year collaboration and partnership between the college and the OAM. Several awards for the most recent class of Opticianry students were presented during the celebration.

The 2023 George J. Bourque Memorial Award was presented to Laura Campbell. The award was established by the Opticians Association of Massachusetts in honor of its past president, who was a major force behind the creation of the Opticianry program at Franklin Cummings Tech. It celebrates the Opticianry graduate who achieves academic excellence and a high standard of integrity. “Every year, I get to present this award to a really deserving student,” said George Bourque Jr., a member of the Opticianry program faculty and son of the late George J. Bourque. “Laura is very deserving. The first time I met her, she was helping other another student.”

The 2023 Philip C. Meuse Award for Courage & Dedication was presented to Noemi Lima and Takeiya Perry. “Every year, students come to the college seeking the opportunity to really make a change in their life. This college is all about courage,” said Wong.

Opticianry grad Camille Dubois was recognized for being the college’s first winner of the nationwide College Bowl contest at Vision Expo East, which was held in March at the Javits Center, New York City. Vision Expo East is an annual event for ophthalmic professionals focusing on eyewear, education, and fashion.

Several alumni of the Opticianry associate degree program were invited to share stories about how Franklin Cummings Tech has affected their lives and careers: Noemi Lima (2023), Scott Everton (2020), and Erika Lafontant (2009).

Everton said he had worked in retail for years and was looking for a pathway to a better career. After meeting with the Franklin Cummings Tech admissions team and the Opticianry program chair, Professor Blair Wong, he was able to create an accelerated schedule that allowed him to balance full-time work, kids, and classes.

“I was able to make the time, take the classes, and get the degree,” Everton said. “I began in September 2019 and I was a licensed optician in September 2020. I accepted my first job offer at the Boston Teachers Union eyecare center in September 2020 and recently started a new job as the optical manager at the Fenway Health Optical Shop in Boston. I’m forever grateful for this program and all the opportunities it provided me.”

The event also included a touching appreciation for Sally Heckel, the success coach for the Opticianry program who is retiring after 32 years of service to the college as a teacher and mentor. “Sally has really believed in our program and supported our students,” said Wong. “She is the director of learning. She is the director of hand-holding. She is the director of pencil sharpening and notebook organizing. Our students would not be nearly as successful if they did not have Sally Heckel.”

See even more photos of this great event!

Faculty member George Bourque with program alums