For more than 20 years, the Alumni Association has celebrated the achievements of those who have excelled in the optometric profession.

Please join us in congratulating the 2010 Alumni Association Award recipients!

The goals of the Alumni Council shall support the Mission of the College and thereby fall under these two major categories:  Non-Fiscal and Fiscal, or more specifically, Outreach and Philanthropy.

OUTREACH – Represent and Promote ICO to Alumni, Students, and Prospective Students

Description: The Alumni Mentor Program shall be a pilot program beginning with current Alumni Council members as the initial mentors.  The primary outreach will be to prospective students, ICO applicants, and current students.  Alumni Mentors must be prepared to answer the following questions:  “Why choose optometry?” and “Why choose ICO?”  The Alumni Relations Office will provide resource materials for mentors to answer questions more readily and accurately.  Responsibilities include:

Description: This program shall be led by Alumni Council members.  Responsibilities include: reading state newsletters and regional journals, looking for achievements by ICO alumni, sending a personal congratulatory note on behalf of the Alumni Council, and forwarding the achievement notice to the Alumni Director for inclusion in ICO Matters.  The Alumni Director shall keep a record of all alumni achievements for accreditation purposes.  The Alumni Director will also look into the costs of printing Alumni Association note cards and envelopes.

Comment: Showcasing ICO leaders to students in this way can be very beneficial but can have many challenges and may only provide limited interaction between students and alumni.  With consideration for limited budgetary and human resources, other options will be explored (such as an ICO Hall of Fame) to meet these challenges and maximize the exposure of our national leaders to students.  Investigation into the feasibility of this objective will continue.

Description: This form of outreach shall entail Alumni Council members scheduling time to co-man the ICO exhibit booth at various local, state, and national conventions, namely, Midwest Eyecare Congress, AOA, IOA, and possibly adding Heart of America and the Michigan Optometric Association Convention.  Responsibilities include: contacting the Alumni Director of times available, attending booth at scheduled time, promoting the profession and ICO at booth, and distributing literature at booth.  Other opportunities are available on campus during the Practice Opportunities Symposium and Capstone Program.

Description: This shall be a pilot program in which Alumni Council members connect with 2-10 alumni in their area on a regular basis to network and share ideas.  Responsibilities include:  contacting alumni in the area and setting up monthly or quarterly meetings or office visits to discuss various topics related to the profession.  These small group meetings can occur at various locations, such as in the home, office or in a restaurant.  The result of building and strengthening these relationships will be mutually beneficial and will gradually progress to stronger positive feelings about ICO and eventual stewardship.  The Alumni Director will provide lists of alumni from different geographical locations for the Alumni Council’s use. 

Comment: This action has already begun by continuing students’ “eyedoc” email accounts after graduation.  Because of ongoing server capacity issues, the broadening of this service remains to be further planned.  The Information Systems Department is currently addressing concerns related to this email service, and it is exploring if email accounts can be offered to all alumni in the near future.

Comment: Adding services to our website has already begun (online giving is now possible; online directory information is being developed), and while we would eventually hope to establish more resources for alumni, there are many factors involved in order to initiate, maintain, and update such a project.  Due to issues pertaining to liability, server capacity, content management, and oversight, this objective is beyond the scope of the resources that are available at this time.

Objective/Action “C”:       Investigate options for an alumni list serve

Comment: With the recent addition of online giving and online alumni directory modules (Net Solutions), the focus will be on maximizing the potential of those modules to the benefit of ICO and our alumni before taking on any new ventures.  It is proposed that the online alumni directory be password protected and available free for alumni who have purchased a hard copy.  Access would be available for a fee for those alumni who have not previously purchased an alumni directory.  Details regarding this proposal will be discussed further.  Exploration of list serve offerings as a service to alumni will continue, thereby enabling our alumni to have interactive discussions online.

PHILANTHROPY – Support the Mission of the College by raising funds for the College

The single most important aspect of maintaining and strengthening the quality of education at ICO is to have the funds to support the advancement of our educational programs.  Recruiting and retaining the best possible faculty, providing a state-of-the-art learning facility, and providing services that go beyond the four walls of the classroom are all essential for the future health and vitality of this institution and the future of the profession.  Fund raising is vital for the growth of the College. 

Description: By setting an example for other alumni to support the College through the Alumni Council members’ own personal philanthropic efforts, increased financial support for the College will result.  Each Alumni Council member shall support the College fiscally according to their means.  Eventual attainment of 100% membership in the Leadership Circle shall be desired (excluding student representatives).

Objective/Action “B”: Encourage/recruit alumni to support the College fiscally

Description: Each Alumni Council member, through example, shall recruit one other alumnus each year to support the College.    If the Alumni Council member is a Leadership Circle member, recruit one other member per year.  If the Alumni Council member supports the Annual Fund, recruit one other alumnus to support the Annual Fund per year.  The Alumni Council has been provided with “giving” resource materials by the Development Office that address the various methods and giving programs available.  The Development Office shall serve as an ongoing resource to support the fund raising activities of the Alumni Council members.

President

Pamela A. Lowe, OD '88, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vice President

Nicholas Colatrella, OD '96, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Secretary-Treasurer

Andrea McCann, OD '04, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Faculty Representative

Sandra Block, OD '81, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stephen Eap, OD '90, JD
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tommy Lim, OD '77

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bill M. Park, OD '77

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nikki Rai, OD '03, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Larry Van Daalen, OD '87

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jeanette C. Varanelli, OD '97, FAAO

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Student Representatives

Kevin Cassin '14

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Andy Ritter '15

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Each ICO student automatically becomes a member of the Illinois College of Optometry Alumni Association upon graduating, joining the largest constituency of alumni of any school or college of optometry in the world and inheriting a strong commitment to excellence in optometric clinical education. With an active network of over 8,000 alumni throughout the world, the Alumni Association fosters current and future alumni relations in support of the mission of the College. There are currently no annual dues to maintain active membership in the Alumni Association.

The Alumni Association is led by the Alumni Council, a group of 12 volunteers (10 alumni and 2 students) who have volunteered to serve the College. Meeting twice per year, and governed by their Alumni Association Constitution and Bylaws and Strategic Plan, the Alumni Council plans and implements programs and services to serve the needs of alumni and future alumni. The Alumni Association also presents awards each year to honor accomplishment and distinguished service in the optometric profession. 

Proposed Revisions to the Alumni Association Constitution and Bylaws.

April 5 - 6

Iowa Optometric Association Congress

Enjoy casual fellowship all evening in the Illinois College of Optometry’s Alumni Hospitality Suite on Friday, April 5, during the Iowa Congress.  Held at the Embassy Suites in Des Moines, this event will feature complimentary food and beverages.  Prospective students, current students, alumni, and friends are welcome to attend.

April 5

Practice Opportunities Symposium

This annual campus event features interactive small group discussions between students and alumni and other OD’s; networking opportunities with private and corporate OD’s; information about specialty practices, externships and residencies; practice management wisdom from experts in the field; information on practice opportunities available following graduation; optometric suppliers showing the latest products and equipment; and great food and beverages.

May 15

ICO Capstone Program

4^th year students unite at this pre-commencement event featuring graduation rehearsal, award presentations, optometric recruiters and suppliers, cap and gown and yearbook distribution, and, of course, the traditional “around the world” buffet stations and beverages.

May 18

ICO Alumni Council Meeting

ICO Campus

May 18

ICO Commencement

Rockefeller Chapel from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (approximate end time)

June 26 - June 30

AOA - 2013 Optometry’s Meeting

Join us during Optometry’s Meeting in sunny San Diego, CA.  On Friday, June 28, starting at 6:30 pm, ICO will be hosting an Alumni and Friends Reception.  The event will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.  (Check your official program for room location.)

September 19-22

Illinois Optometric Association Convention

Visit us in the exhibit hall at the Westin Chicago Northwest in Itasca, IL, on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 and find out what’s new at ICO.   We’re looking forward to seeing you!

September 26-29

Wisconsin Optometric Association Meeting and Convention

Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WI

September 27

ICO Alumni Council Meeting

ICO Campus

September 27-29

ICO’s Homecoming

All alumni are invited.  Come back to where it all started, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Windy City.  A special reunion event is planned for the classes of: 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008.  Contact Connie Scavuzzo, Director of Alumni Development, at 312-949-7080 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

October 23-26

AAO - Academy 2013

Join us during Academy 2013 in Seattle, Washington!  An ICO Alumni and Friends Reception, hosted by Dr. Arol Augsburger, will be held at the Washington State Convention Center on Friday, October 25 and will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.  (Check your official program for exact time and room location.)

For more information on any of the above listed events, please contact Connie Scavuzzo, Director of Alumni Development, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 312-949-7080.

2010 Calendar of Events

May 22
ICO Alumni Council Meeting
On campus from 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

ICO Commencement
Rockefeller Chapel from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (approx. end time)

June 16 - 20
AOA – 2010 Optometry’s Meeting
On Friday, June 18th, join us at the ICO Alumni Reception during the AOA in Orlando, FL.  Hosted by Dr. Arol Augsburger, this informal event will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center and will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.  (Please check your official program for exact room location and time.)

August 27
ICO Alumni Council Meeting
On campus from 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

August 27 - 29
ICO’s Alumni Weekend - SAVE THE DATE!
Don’t miss this exciting weekend of events planned for all ICO alumni!  Reconnect with old friends, see what’s new at your Alma Mater, and enjoy the many attractions of the Windy City.   Reunion years are:  1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005.  For more information, please contact Connie Scavuzzo, Director of Alumni Development, at 312-949-7080 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

September 16 - 19
Illinois Optometric Association Convention
Visit us in the exhibit hall at the Crown Plaza in Springfield, IL, on Friday, September 17th, and Saturday, September 18th and find out the latest news at ICO.  The College will also be co-sponsoring the IOA luncheon on Sunday, September 19th, with welcoming remarks from Dr. Arol Augsburger, ICO’s President.

September 23 - 26
Wisconsin Optometric Association Meeting and Convention
Join us at the WOA’s Awards Luncheon on Friday, September 24th, at the Marriott Madison West in Middleton, WI.  The Illinois College of Optometry is a co-sponsor of the luncheon.

October 13-14
Michigan Optometric Association’s Fall Meeting
On Wednesday, October 13th, alumni and friends are invited to attend an ICO alumni reception held at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI, during the MOA’s Fall Meeting.

November 17 - 20
AAO – Academy 2010
Join us during Academy 2010 in sunny San Francisco, CA!  An ICO Alumni Reception, hosted by Dr. Arol Augsburger, will be held at the Moscone Center West on Friday, November 19th and will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages.  (Please check your official program for exact room location and time.)

Welcome ICO alumni and donors!

You are a valued part of ICO and we’re here to help you stay connected to ICO news, upcoming alumni events and alumni services, information on how you can support ICO, and continuing education programs.

As a graduate of ICO, you are now a member of one of the most active optometric networks in the world. ICO has an active network of more than 8,000 alumni across the world. Here you can keep up to date and find out more about Homecoming Weekend, the Alumni Association, as well as read current and past issues of ICO Matters.

Your relationship with ICO continues after graduation, so find out how you can get involved or make a gift. Your ongoing support and involvement helps us to continue our commitment to excellence in optometric clinical education, as well as offering students the same rich traditions and world class experience that meant so much to you as a student.

Please contact us and let us know if you have any questions or how we can best meet your needs.