Mary Jo Washko, managing director of Middle College, of late mentioned to Opticianry programme head, Yvonne Metten, that 17 of her students needed corrective eyewear. Understanding the need, Metten met amongst local optometrist MD Evan Kauffman who graciously agreed to donate his fourth dimension (valued at $2,100) to demeanour gratuitous undilated oculus exams for Middle College students.
In social club to furnish this service, the Opticianry programme had to obtain frames, lenses together with improved equipment. Metten met amongst Elizabeth Littlefield, vice president for Institutional Advancement, together with representatives amongst the Richmond Eye together with Ear Foundation Fund to run into if at that spot was an involvement inwards funding this initiative. The Richmond Eye together with Ear Foundation Fund, a ingredient fund of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond together with Central Virginia, awarded $37,600 to the Opticianry Program on Apr 2, 2012. Funds from this grant were used to buy lenses together with frames for JSRCC Middle College students together with to buy a lens edger which helps Opticianry students fabricate lenses inwards less time.
On Apr 23, a Vision Fair was held solely for Middle College students. Under the watchful oculus of MD Kauffman, Opticianry students provided preliminary exams for close 25 Middle College clients. Specifically, they conducted tests for coloring stuff blindness together with provided keratometry together with slit light evaluations. They too worked straight amongst the clients inwards the pick together with plumbing equipment of eyewear.
"Improving a student’s mightiness to run into volition convey a tremendous demeanour on on his or her mightiness to live on successful non simply inwards their college programme but too inwards their occupation," said Washko.
The Middle College is a college entry programme for individuals betwixt the ages of 18-24 who convey non completed their high schoolhouse instruction but convey the destination of aid college. The programme includes GED training together with college degree training for work coursework to aid students pursue their destination of a college education. There is no toll to the educatee to participate inwards this program.