On Thursday, June 26, 2025, NECO hosted a vibrant General Alumni Reception at the Minneapolis Hilton Hotel, held in conjunction with the AOA and AOSA Optometry’s Meeting. The event welcomed graduates from across the decades to reconnect, reflect, and reengage with NECO’s growing alumni community.

The reception offered a chance to catch up with classmates, meet NECO faculty and staff, and learn more about the College’s strategic vision for the years ahead. Whether reconnecting after five years or fifty, attendees shared stories, celebrated their shared history, and rediscovered their pride in NECO’s mission to lead in optometric education, innovation, and equity.

The event also highlighted exciting new initiatives designed to shape the future of the profession, including opportunities to support scholarships, clinical programs, and research. NECO leadership shared updates on the College’s five-year strategic plan, sparking thoughtful conversations among alumni about the future of eye care and the role they can continue to play in NECO’s success.