Awards Criteria and Recognition Events

The AOA Paraoptometric Section has developed several professional recognition awards for its members. All awards culminate at the Section's annual conference, Optometry's Meeting®.

Paraoptometric of the Year Award

The Paraoptometric of the Year Award is given annually to the optometric assistant or technician who has made the most outstanding and worthwhile contributions to the profession of optometry, paraoptometry, and the general public.

The Awards Committee will judge the nominees’ performance based on the following criteria: service to optometry and paraoptometric associations, public service, and personal endorsement.

Nominees do not have to be winners of the state Paraoptometric of the Year Award. State winners are not automatically entered in the national contest. Nominees must be members of the AOA Paraoptometric Section and membership must be in good standing. Nominations can be submitted by a state, regional, or local paraoptometric organization, an AOA member OD, or an AOA Paraoptometric Section member.

The Paraoptometric of the Year Award will be presented Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Friday night Awards Reception during Optometry’s Meeting® in San Diego, CA. The honoree will receive a plaque, roundtrip airfare to Optometry's Meeting®, three nights lodging reimbursement at a contract hotel, and $500 to assist with travel expenses.

The Paraoptometric Section encourages you to consider nominating an outstanding paraoptometric for the  Paraoptometric of the Year Award. You may submit your nomination for the award by February 1, 2013.

Nomination forms are available through state associations and on the AOA PS Web site. To request information about the rules and criteria pertaining to this award, as well as a nomination form, e-mail PS@aoa.org, call (800) 365-2219, ext. 4108, or fax (314) 991-4101.

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Community Service Award

Nominations are being accepted for the 2013 American Optometric Association Paraoptometric Section's annual Community Service Award. The award honors one member of the Section with the Community Service Award who has generously donated his or her time and talents to the profession.

Each nominee is evaluated based on his or her performance as related in the following categories: community service within the optometric practice in which he/she works, self or practice-sponsored community service, as well as the individual's personal and professional goals of community service.

The recipient will be presented a plaque of recognition, a $100.00 personal cash award, and a $100.00 award to the charity of the recipient's choice during the Paraoptometric Section Friday night Awards Reception being held Friday, June 28, 2013 during the 116th Annual AOA Congress & 43th Annual AOSA Conference: Optometry's Meeting® in San Diego, CA.

Completed nomination forms and recommendations must be received by the AOA Paraoptometric Section office on or prior to March 31, 2013 to be considered for next year's award.

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The Bridgeway Award

For the sixth year, the AOA Paraoptometric Section will present an award for affiliates, honoring the work done on the state level to increase state and national paraoptometric membership.

Affiliate optometric and paraoptometric associations who strive to increase membership both locally and nationally will not want to miss participating in this exciting award.

The state with the most accumulated criteria points each year will win a gift basket of education materials ($500 value) to be used as a lending library for their members.

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Paraoptometric Recognition Week

The AOA Paraoptometric Section, with the support of the American Optometric Association, has designated the third week in September as Paraoptometric Recognition Week.

Now in its ninth year, the recognition week is designed to honor paraoptometrics for their dedication to the patients they serve, and to the profession of optometry.

To order promotional kits for your office during Paraoptometric Recognition Week, e-mail ParaRecognition@aoa.org.

For additional information about the paraoptometric profession, check out the Active Paraoptometric (PS) Member Survey 2011.