Entering to the powerful sound-track of Star Wars (the good side, that is, the dark side was reserved for the University’s professional teaching staff!), the graduating optometry class of 2017 entered Auckland Town Hall, bedecked in flowing black robes with royal blue collars. For the first time, optometry students graduated in November with their Faculty of Medical & Health Science colleagues from nursing and pharmacy. To herald this, the guest speaker was optometry’s own Paul Rose, CNZM.
Inventor of the internationally-recognised and sold Rose K brand of contact lenses for irregular cornea, Rose provided an uplifting speech about entrepreneurialism and being aware of “those lightbulb moments” as you never know where they might take you. “Innovation is challenging the status quo, that’s how we move forward in life.”
After congratulating all the students on their hard work, adding that learning is an exciting journey that never ends, he reminded all the graduates to stay passionate about what they do as then, they will never be bored.
Graduates were then presented with their certificates and prizes were awarded. Class of 2017 School of Optometry and Vision Science prize winners were:
- Sean Mahendran – the Anna Pritchard Prize for optical dispensing
- Jing Chen – the Raymond Harry Hawkins Prize for undergraduate optometry research
- Theantay Keo and Kishan Mistry – first in the NZCO Prize for project presentation
- Joyce Mathan, Bridget Field and Bianca Davidson - second in the NZCO Prize for project presentation
- Sharifeh Safdari – Excellence in Clinical Optometry Prize
- Bianca Davidson – Senior Scholar
- Bianca Davidson – Dean’s Medal
