Optical Prism April 2019 | Page 32

Next Gen A passion for helping others By Jody Johnson-Pettit Fourth-year University of Waterloo optometry student Sherene Vazhappilly is making a name for herself and planning for her future. Vazhappilly was recently named the grand prize winner of the 2018 Students of Vision Scholarship from Transitions Optical and the Opticians Association of Canada. To win the competition, Vazhappilly submitted a video that outlined creative ways for patients to find eyeglasses that not only correct their vision, but appeal to their sense of style. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges and evaluated based on their creativity, strategic thinking and ethics. 32 Optical Prism | April 2019 “Initially, I hadn’t heard anything back regarding my application, so I emailed Transitions Optical to thank them for the opportunity to participate. I was really surprised when a few hours later, they told me that they hadn’t released the winners yet, but that I had in fact, won the grand prize,” recounts Vazhappilly. “I participated because as an optometry student, I thought it was vital to include the clinician’s perspective for eyewear, as this is something I do everyday in clinic for my patients. “This award will help me in my career by financially assisting me with my tuition costs and reminds me on the importance of upholding the highest degree of patient education and care.