On Sunday, May 18 at Boston’s Symphony Hall, Dr. Howard Purcell, NECO President and Chief Executive Officer, welcomed the Class of 2025 and introduced the faculty, staff, Board Members, and special guests in attendance at NECO’s 131st commencement ceremony.
Dr. Purcell took a moment to acknowledge and honor the late Dr. Maureen Hanley, whose absence was palpable. He then shared his congratulations and excitement for thee new graduates who showed their resilience right from the start of their NECO journey in 2020.
“The pandemic may have shifted where you were learning,” Dr. Purcell recalled. “However, the commitment to providing you with the skills and knowledge was always focused on enhancing the curriculum, and your experiences, to prepare you for tomorrow’s opportunities in optometry.”
Alumni Association President and Assistant Professor of Clinical Optometry Thomas Andrea, OD, FAAO welcomed the Class of 2025 to the alumni and optometric community. He reminded the graduates how much of an impact they can have as professionals.
“As new doctors of optometry, you’ve been trained to diagnose disease, preserve sight, and enhance patients’ quality of life,” he said. “But it’s important to recognize that your influence extends far beyond the exam room. You are now leaders and advocates in your communities.”
Barry S. Kran, OD, FAAO, Professor Emeritus presented an Honorary Degree to D. Luisa Mayer, PhD, MEd, an innovator whose outstanding ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration has advanced the understanding of visual function and established a transformative clinical model that empowers educators, caregivers, and families to better understand and support the visual development of individuals with disabilities.
Dr. Purcell and Dr. Alan Glazier introduced Lois Schoenbrun, CAE (Ret.), FAAO as this year’s NECO Presidential Medal recipient. She is a distinguished nonprofit and association executive who served for 23 years as Executive Director and CEO of both the American Academy of Optometry and the American Academy of Optometry Foundation. “Unlike other professions where too few step up to serve,” she said, “the pervasive spirit of volunteerism in optometry is remarkable, delightful, and so important.”
Shannon Gavin, Class of 2025 Valedictorian, not only completed NECO’s OD program with a 4.0 grade point average over her four-year journey, but also combined her passion for patient care, problem-solving, and the application of scientific principles in a clinical setting with grace and curiosity.
Dr. Purcell noted the various ways in which students achieve their goal of becoming an optometrist, including the importance of scholarships. Thanks to a generous gift from NECO alum Dr. Richard Laudon, NECO has launched the Dr. Richard Laudon Scholarship Fund and its inaugural recipient, Toby Wercberger, Class of 2025.
As the names began to be called, Dr. Purcell handed out diplomas and later, Dr. Timothy Bossie led the graduates in reciting the Optometric Oath.The ceremony concluded with the newly-minted doctors exiting Symphony Hall to greet family and friends, and to embark on the next phase of their personal and professional lives.
