The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) has announced the recipients of its 2025 Special Recognition Awards, honoring individuals for their contributions to optometric education, research, and clinical ethics. The awards were presented during ASCO’s Annual Business Meeting on June 25 in Minneapolis.

John Flanagan, PhD, FAAO, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors individuals for exceptional leadership and service to ASCO and optometric education over an extended period. Dr. Flanagan is a professor and dean emeritus at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley, and has held continuous federal research funding for more than three decades.

The Herbert Wertheim Award was presented to Dennis M. Levi, OD, PhD, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. The award recognizes individuals or organizations for high-impact, innovative programs or initiatives addressing eye and vision health or the social determinants of eye care. Dr. Levi is widely published in the areas of vision development and amblyopia.

Jennifer Reilly, OD, MSc, FAAO, of the New England College of Optometry was named the 2025 Rising Star Award recipient, an award that honors outstanding early-career faculty or administrators making significant contributions to ASCO’s mission and programs.

The biennial Dr. Lester Janoff Award for Writing Excellence was awarded to Kevin T. Willeford, OD, MS, PhD; Nicole Patterson, OD, MS; and Jamie Althoff, OD for their article “Feedback Changes Metacognitive Accuracy Over Different Time Scales,” published in the Optometric Education journal. The award recognizes the top research article based on significance, quality, and potential impact.

Michelle Shang, a student at the New England College of Optometry, received the 2025 ASCO Student Award in Clinical Ethics. Her essay, “Informed Consent in Declining Cognition: A Moral Dilemma from an Optometric Perspective,” earned her a $1,000 prize and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Optometric Education.