NEW ORLEANS—SECO International is officially accepting 2022 nominations for its three prestigious awards: Optometrist of the South, Paraoptometric of the South and Young Optometrists of the South, according to an announcement from the organization. The deadline for submitting award nominations is Nov. 20, 2021 and award winners will be recognized and presented during the SoCO House of Delegates meeting at SECO 2022 which is scheduled to take place in New Orleans on Saturday, March 12, 2022. The award categories are as follows:
 
Optometrist of the South: This award may be presented annually to an optometrist who has demonstrated a significant contribution to the optometric profession. The recipient must be a member of the Southern Council of Optometrists in the year in which the award is presented. The president and president-elect of SECO are not eligible to receive this award during their term of office.  Past recipients of this award are not eligible to be nominated.

Paraoptometric of the South: This award may be presented annually to a non-optometrist who has demonstrated a significant contribution to the optometric profession. Traditionally, this award has been presented to individuals who reside in one of the 13 states that comprise the Southern Council of Optometrists.  No employee of the president or president-elect of SECO is eligible to receive this award while the said president or president-elect is in office. Past recipients of this award are not eligible to be nominated.

Young Optometrist of the South: This award may be presented to an Optometrist who 1) has demonstrated significant contributions to the optometric profession; and 2) has graduated from an accredited school or college of Optometry within 10 years of the date when the request for nominations was made. For purposes of this award, a year will be defined as a calendar year beginning January 1 and ending on December 31. The recipient must be a member of the Southern Council of Optometrists in the year in which the award is presented.

Nominations must consist of a letter that includes the nominee’s name, the award for which they are being nominated, their city and state of practice, the reason why the nominee should receive the award and a copy of the nominee’s biography or CV.

Nominations may be emailed to info@secostaff.com or mailed to:

Awards Committee
SECO International
4661 N. Shallowford Road
Atlanta, GA  30338