EVENTS IN REVIEW BY: KASEY ANDREWS
Hello everyone! This blog post is designed to give you a brief glimpse at some of the fun that comes with being a student at SCO. It’s a collection of events I’ve attended these last few years ranging from wellness and social events to a few instances of healthy competition. This is not an exhaustive list, so I’ve tried to highlight my favorites. I hope it illustrates ways to get involved and enjoy your time here at SCO!
INTRAMURALS
ST. JUDES MARATHON
Throughout my time here at SCO, I’ve participated in co-ed intramural teams for volleyball, soccer, and basketball. It’s been a fun way to unwind after class and get to know many of my peers. Like many intramural leagues, you have 1-2 games a week that lead up to a tournament. Skills range from students that have never played before, to college athletes. A few of our instructors have even joined on occasion. If you have any interest, I wholeheartedly recommend!
St. Jude’s hosts an annual 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and Marathon. This past year, nearly 160 members of the SCO students, staff, and faculty participated. The school typically The last fewayears The HCPE the has hosted the Student Innovation Competition hosts pasta dinner night before the race to help fuel jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO, the participants. As someone who isn’t a huge fan of running, it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to I really enjoyed Thebusiness energy concepts at the starting line electric!with foster innovation andthis. explore amongst theisstudents; I recommend finding a group of friends signcash up and make an added bonus of some friendly competition andto a nice prize. Students interested in participatingsome submitmemories. their idea and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. Sharks being Industry professionals within the optometric field.
This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun competition to be a part of. Link to SCO news article
FLOAT TRIP The social fraternity Omega Delta hosts a float trip at the beginning of the Fall semester every year. This is a long-standing tradition for SCO going on 10+ years. Students travel to KC's on the Current in Missouri and spend several hours floating down the Current River on tubes. Many of the students continue the fun by enjoying a night under the stars at the campground before heading back to Memphis the next day.
HALLOWEEN PARTY The last few years The HCPE has hosted the Student Innovation Competition jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO, it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to foster innovation and explore business concepts amongst the students; with an added bonus of some friendly competition and a nice cash prize. Students interested in participating submit their idea and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. Sharks being Industry professionals within the optometric field. This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun competition to be a part of. Link to SCO news article
Another Omega Delta tradition is the annual Halloween Party. Students from all the classes dress up in costumes and enjoy a fun night on Beale Street. There is a costume competition with various categories. It’s a fun way to unwind and take a break from the books.
The last few years, The HCPE has hosted the Student Innovation Competition jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO; it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to foster innovation and explore business concepts amongst the students. There’s an added bonus of some friendly competition and a nice cash prize! Students interested in participating submit their idea, and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. “Sharks” being industry professionals within the optometric field. This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the “Sharks” we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then we fielded questions. This was such a fun competition to be a part of!
SCO SHARK TANK
The last few years The HCPE has hosted the Student Innovation Competition jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO, it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to foster innovation and explore business concepts amongst the students; with an added bonus of some friendly competition and a nice cash prize. Students interested in participating submit their idea and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. Sharks being Industry professionals within the optometric field. This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun competition to be a part of. Link to SCO news article
MUSICALS/BALLETS/SYMPHONIES
HAUNTED BUS TOUR
The Wellness Program is always sending out sign ups to attend local musicals, ballets, and symphonies. I’ve had the pleasure of attending several. My friends and I often enjoy getting dressed up for dinner before the show, and then heading to our seats. They are generally scheduled around midterms, making it the perfect way to relax for a bit and make some memories with friends.
This was a new event offered by the Wellness Program. A group of students enjoyed a bus ride around Memphis while our tour guide shared ghost stories from throughout the city. TheItlast few years TheofHCPE has and hosted the Student was a fun mix history hauntings. WeInnovation even gotCompetition off the jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO, bus in several locations and performed a paranormal it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to thoroughly enjoyed thisamongst fun night my with fosterinvestigation. innovation andI explore business concepts thewith students; friends. and a nice cash prize. Students an added bonus of some friendly competition interested in participating submit their idea and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. Sharks being Industry professionals within the optometric field. This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun competition to be a part of. Link to SCO news article
COOKING WITH ASM The last few years The HCPE has hosted the Student Innovation Competition jovially coined the SCO Shark Tank. This competition is not exclusive to SCO, it’s part of the Rick Bay Foundation. It’s designed to be an engaging way to foster innovation and explore business concepts amongst the students; with an added bonus of some friendly competition and a nice cash prize. Students interested in participating submit their idea and if selected they design a presentation for the “Sharks”. Sharks being Industry professionals within the optometric field. This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then A Square Meal (ASM) is the cafe located in the Tower. Every so we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun often, competition the Wellness a Cooking toProgram be a partpartners of. Link towith SCOASM newsfor article
Class with Chef. At the time of writing this, I’ve attended on two separate occasions. Both times, we learned how to make a delicious stir fry that is well balanced in vegetables and protein. It’s an easy, low stakes event where you whip up a tasty meal with plenty of leftovers to take home.
FALL FEST/CHILI COOK OFF In the Fall, SCO hosts a Fall Fest which includes a Chili Cook Off. Teams of students and teachers cook up their culinary chili creations for the Fall Fest attendees to sample and vote on. There are several categories to vote on. In addition to the Cook Off, there are usually several other festivities/activities to enjoy. This past year, there was a dunk tank where several teachers rotated through, along with yard games. Safe to say, I did the sampling, not the cooking. This is a fun event where you can hang out with friends, have some tasty food, and enjoy camaraderie with classmates.
OPTOMETRY’S MEETING The 2026 OM was held in Phoenix, AZ. Travel Grants were provided by the AOA. So many students and staff attended thatfew classes cancelled, and The Eye Center was closed to The last yearswere The HCPE has hosted the Student Innovation Competition allow for travel. ItShark was fun toThis meet other optometry students, jovially coined the SCO Tank. competition is not exclusive to SCO, it’s part of the Rick Foundation. It’sindustry designedprofessionals, to be an engaging way to network withBay current ODs, and and foster innovation attend and explore business concepts amongst Continuing Education courses.the students; with
an added bonus of some friendly competition and a nice cash prize. Students interested in participating submit their idea and if selected they design a There was also“Sharks”. an EyeQ, which is a Student where each presentation for the Sharks being Industry Bowl professionals within the school sends one student to face off in an optometry question optometric field.
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This past year I was one of several students who participated. In addition to presenting to the Sharks we presented to the entire 3rd year class and then This was one of my favorite events I’ve attended. Aside from we fielded questions. Even though I didn’t win this was such a fun the conference requirements there of time to competition to be a part of. Link towas SCOplenty news article
explore Phoenix and mingle with others. There was a huge group chat for the SCO students at the conference, making it easy to know which locations to head to and join in on the fun. Pro tip: leave plenty of room in your suitcase so you can take home plenty of swag.
BONUS