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The Bruce McKenzie Award for Lifetime Achievement (VRT)

The Bruce McKenzie Award for Lifetime Achievement

The Bruce McKenzie award is a biennial award established by the VRT Division to honor Bruce McKenzie for his pioneering leadership in the field of rehabilitation teaching. It is the Division’s highest award, presented to an exemplary individual for outstanding contributions to the field of rehabilitation teaching and independent living services. It is the Division’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

Criteria:

  • A nominee shall be an active or retired vision rehabilitation therapist/vision rehabilitation therapy supervisor.
  • A nominee must have 10 years or more of service in the field of vision rehabilitation therapy.
  • A nominee shall have exceptional leadership qualities.
  • The uniqueness of a nominee’s contribution to the field shall be given due consideration.
  • A nominee’s contribution shall have been national or international in scope.
  • A nominee shall be a member of the Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division.

 

Nominating Procedures:

  • All nominations should include biographical information, education and training, employment history, leadership qualities, contributions, achievements and professional memberships.
  • All nominations must be submitted and seconded in writing.
  • If possible, a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae should be included.
  • The Division Awards Committee shall select the award recipient.
  • Nominations must be submitted to Chair & Chair-Elect and Awards Committee Chair.

 

Past Bruce McKenzie Award Recipients:

1973: Samie Rankin, Texas; Edmund Bird, New York
1975: Florence Horton, Kansas
1977: Billie Elder, Arkansas
1979: Norman Dalke, Oklahoma
1981: Velma Becker, Illinois
1982: Alice Raftary, Michigan
1983: Vera McClain, Alabama
1984: Linda Olson, Arizona
1986: Scott Oliver, New York
1988: Julia Richardson, Alabama
1990: Susan Ponchillia, Michigan; Paul Ponchillia, Michigan
1992: David Search, Michigan
1994: Patricia Bussen Smith, Arkansas
1996: Nancy Paskin, New York
1998: Don Golembiewski, Wisconsin; Anne Yeadon, New York
2000: Lynda Jones, Florida
2002: Maureen Duffy, Pennsylvania
2004: Barbara Hunt, IL; Lisa-Anne Mowerson, PA
2006: Margaret E. Cleary, MA
2008: Alvin Roberts, IL
2010 B.J. LeJeune, MS
2012 Lenore Dillon, AL
2014 George Abbott, IL
2016 John McMahon, Maine
2018: Laura Vittorioso, Maine and Diane S. Weiss, New York
2020 Samantha Green, Maine and Jennifer Ottowitz, WI
2022 No Award
2024 No Award Given