Brand New Eye-Conic Award For Exciting Optometry Event

The AOA EyeQ Championship or well known as the ‘Student Bowl’ is the highlight of student events at the Optometry’s Meeting. It’s where thousands of doctors & students & the very best in the future of the profession come together to celebrate the energy, pride and knowledge of optometry students from across the country. As the profession continues to evolve, so too does this event, more than just a fun tradition it’s a chance to connect with peers and leaders who define the future of eye care. This year, the most exciting and electric night in optometry came back with more student focussed-features including our trophy!

The eye-conic event was held in June at the Phoenix Convention Center & hosted by Brooke Major, O.D., a former American Optometric Student Association leader and student bowl attendee.

With over 2,600 optometry students in attendance, teams from each optometry school competed in a game-show type format. Resulting in winning the coveted EyeQ Cup, created by EFX. “This year is super special for students, as they will be part of the first-ever AOA EyeQ Championship—an amazing event supported by AOAExcel!” said Chase Bowerman, 2026-2027 AOSA president and third-year student at Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.

The stunning EyeQ Cup is their new perpetual championship trophy, modelled after the Stanley Cup, honouring the history of the Student Bowl while symbolising the next generation of leadership and excellence in optometry. Introducing a trophy like this adds an interactive and competitive experience to the popular event. From what originated as a spirited quiz-style competition among schools of optometry, now has grown into a nationally-recognized highlight of the annual meeting and point of pride for students and schools, drawing thousands of students and alumni to cheer on their peers in a high-energy, school-spirit atmosphere.

Visionary Design

The EyeQ trophy strikes a dramatic contrast between black anodised and nickel-plated aluminium spires that curve upward to cradle the iconic EyeQ logo. Standing over a foot tall, the trophy creates a bold silhouette that mirrors the sharp intellect of their inaugural quiz champion. Each year the winning team name will be added, marking this trophy in Optometry history.

The client required the trophy to be durable, visually striking, to withstand shipping/handling and travel year to year as a symbol of achievement and we made sure to achieve that. They had this to say about their award/working with EFX on their new design “This event is near and dear to so many hearts in the optometry community. As we planned to evolve this beloved tradition, it was crucial to us to create a trophy reflective of the spirit and excitement. EFX did an incredible job bringing our vision to life. We appreciated their imaginative ideas and clear, consistent communication throughout the process.”