2014 Future Leaders of Optometry Award The Preston Cup to Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry!
Award presented at the 4th Annual Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN) Leadership Conference in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio, July 02, 2014 - The Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLN) congratulates Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry for receiving the 2014 Preston Cup Award. Each year one of the twenty-one participating private-practice clubs from Colleges of Optometry across America is honored with the Preston Cup, which recognizes excellence in leadership and contribution to students and private-practice optometry.
“It is an honor to be awarded the Preston Cup by our peers as we all strive to encourage and grow the excellence in leadership and private-practice optometry,” said William To, President of Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry private practice club. “Being one of the newest Optometry colleges, Western has gone above and beyond, providing optometric students with amazing opportunities.”
Throughout the academic year, each private-practice club at the colleges of Optometry set up practice management programs for their peers to learn more about what goes into running a successful Optometric business. These educational activities supplement formal academic courses, and the private-practice clubs share their achievements and successes at the annual SOLN meeting sponsored by VSP® Vision Care.
“With a vision of cultivating leaders in private-practice optometry, it was rewarding to see the fourth annual SOLN leadership conference take place in Columbus,” commented Kristin O’Brien, OD and SOLN Board member. “These outstanding students are the next generation of leaders in optometry and healthcare, and it is encouraging to see that our future is in good hands.”
This year, the 4th annual SOLN leadership conference took place in Columbus, Ohio, from June 4 through the 7. The top four private-practice clubs, as voted on by the other SOLN members, presented their accomplishments as a club. Participants at the SOLN leadership conference then voted for the team they felt best supported their peers with such items as holding successful events, fundraisers, and community outreach.
The Preston Cup will reside in Pomona, CA until next year - congratulations Western!
“It is an honor to be awarded the Preston Cup by our peers as we all strive to encourage and grow the excellence in leadership and private-practice optometry,” said William To, President of Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry private practice club. “Being one of the newest Optometry colleges, Western has gone above and beyond, providing optometric students with amazing opportunities.”
Throughout the academic year, each private-practice club at the colleges of Optometry set up practice management programs for their peers to learn more about what goes into running a successful Optometric business. These educational activities supplement formal academic courses, and the private-practice clubs share their achievements and successes at the annual SOLN meeting sponsored by VSP® Vision Care.
“With a vision of cultivating leaders in private-practice optometry, it was rewarding to see the fourth annual SOLN leadership conference take place in Columbus,” commented Kristin O’Brien, OD and SOLN Board member. “These outstanding students are the next generation of leaders in optometry and healthcare, and it is encouraging to see that our future is in good hands.”
This year, the 4th annual SOLN leadership conference took place in Columbus, Ohio, from June 4 through the 7. The top four private-practice clubs, as voted on by the other SOLN members, presented their accomplishments as a club. Participants at the SOLN leadership conference then voted for the team they felt best supported their peers with such items as holding successful events, fundraisers, and community outreach.
The Preston Cup will reside in Pomona, CA until next year - congratulations Western!

The Preston Cup trophy was donated to SOLutioN by VSP
To learn more about SOLN and the Preston Cup, visit http://www.solnoptometry.com and/or email: soln.information@gmail.com.
To learn more about SOLN and the Preston Cup, visit http://www.solnoptometry.com and/or email: soln.information@gmail.com.
The Preston Cup - 2014 Recipient : a blog from a student attendee!
BY Susan LY -- Columbus, OH., June 7, 2014 – For the first time, the Student Optometric Leadership Network (SOLutioN) had in attendance every representative from each of the schools and colleges of optometry in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The Preston Cup took place in the newly renovated Ohio State University: College of Optometry. Dana Beards, SOLN Executive Director, presented the rules for the presentation: 10 minutes per presenter and every representative will vote on who would be awarded The Second Annual Preston Cup.
The presentations from each presenter included the events that each club led during the past academic year. For example, SOLutioN members from each school Dined with a Doc, brought in guest speakers, had fundraisers, toured offices and held networking events with local optometrists to promote and provide insight on private practice to optometry students. In the months prior to the annual meeting, SOLutioN members from each school voted for the club that advanced business education the most over the past year. The top four finalists (SCO, SUNY, UH, and WesternU) presented their accomplishments at the annual conference and each representative votes for their favorite presentation. This year, Western University "Optometry Private Practice Business Club" received the honor and privilege of taking home The Preston Cup.