The Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO) at Drexel University’s Class of 2026, who graduated May 21, 2026, was celebrated with a number of awards at a pre-commencement class party the evening before.
The students were treated with a variety of food stations and a cash bar. They each were presented with a gift bag that included a branded shopping tote, congratulatory card, a mug and a picture frame.
Sponsors set up tables with representatives for the event and those included Frank Sindoni, executive account manager of Alcon; Joshua Meredith, professional education manager at Johnson & Johnson; Arezo Wolski, market managing optometrist at LensCrafters and Jamie Jobst, recruiting manager at Essilor/Luxottica; and Heidi Dougherty, campus recruiter at MyEyeDr. Students were able to meet and mingle with the sponsors during the reception.
There, a number of awards and recognitions were presented to the graduating class. They included:
High Achievers:
- Provost Award – Valedictorian: Anna German
- Dean’s Award – High Score on Part 1 of NEBO: Asef Chowdhury
- Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) Award: Anna German
- Shlaifer Memorial Award: Anna German
- Crozier Memorial Award: Shirin Ludwig
- Ibironke Family Legacy and Leadership Award: Asef Chowdhury and Juliana Haddad
Clinical Excellence:
The Eye Institute (TEI) Clinical Excellence Award Suite 1: Rachel Anne Brodt- TEI Clinical Excellence Award Suite 2: Sarah Marie Metzmaier
- TEI Clinical Excellence Award Suite 3: Sophia Leigh Boris
- TEI Clinical Excellence Award – William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center: Michelle Ha-Le-Thuy Nguyen
- TEI Clinical Excellence Award – Neuro-Ophthalmic: Malai Adell Williams
- TEI Clinical Excellence Award – Pediatrics: Stephanie L. Chung
- TEI Clinical Excellence Award – Accelerated Scholars: Matthew John Stone
Pediatrics:
- Pediatrics and Binocular Vision Service – Award for Excellence: Anna Elizabeth D'Onofrio
- Good-Lite Pediatric Award: Jordan Delaney Lumbatis
Low Vision:
- Maculogix AMD Advocacy Endowed Award: Adam Christian Fortney
- Sarah Appel Excellence in Special Populations Assessment and Reassessment Center (SPARC) and Pediatric Low Vision Award: Sophia Maria Nguyen
- Eschenbach Award: Juliana Haddad
- Optelec LV Student Award: Bianka Hamati
- William Feinbloom Low Vision Award (sponsored by Designs for Vision, Inc.): Julia Cortiñas
Contact Lens:
William Collins, OD, FAAO Award for Achieving Excellence in the Study of Contact Lens Science: Heimraj Resaul and Asef Chowdhury- Cooper Vision Excellence in Contact Lens Award: Breanna Rosella Hulton
- Conforma Laboratories Award 1: Janet Socorro Garcia; Award 2: Shruti Kamleshkumar Patel; Award 3: Emily Laov; Award 4: Shirin Ludwig; Award 5: Radha Jayesh Patel; Award 6: Lisa Ann MacQueen
- GP Contact Lens Clinical Excellence Award: Mariana Garcia
Graduation with Honors
Cum Laude:
- Sophia Leigh Boris, Ryan Feng, Katherine Yelena Franklin, Jacob Earl Grund, Sunnie Daise Klutts, Kayley Lammel, MacKenzie Joyce Lewis-Whitlow, Sarah Marie Metzmaier, Maya Mistry, Bailey M Zerkee
Magna Cum Laude:
- Sarav Preet Chouhan, Kaitlyn N. Kudlawiec, Joshua Joseph Ligus, Allison M Podkul, Andey Nicole Reynolds
Summa Cum Laude:
- Asef Chowdhury, Anna Elizabeth D'Onofrio, Madison Edwards, Anna German, Juliana Haddad, Shirin Ludwig, Radha Jayesh Patel, Heimraj Resaul, Ahdal Singh Sekhon, Lawrence Sunga Yabut
