Brookside Optometric Group has presented a scholarship award to a deserving local senior every year since 2016. Every year, we continue to be amazed by the caliber of the students who are nominated. We've chosen to run our scholarship a little different than most programs. Rather than asking students to enter by writing an essay, composing a poem, or standing on one leg while patting their head and whistling their favorite song, we ask teachers, coaches, scoutmasters, and other youth leaders to nominate a deserving student. We've been amazed at the results. Each year, we receive nominations for high school seniors who are true role models. These are young adults who have dedicated themselves to their education, to their communities, and to their peers. Without exception, they are extremely hard workers who are driven to succeed, regardless of the obstacles. These students volunteer their time for their schools and communities. Many...

This month I have the distinct honor to write about the Brookside Optometric Group’s latest project. My husband and I moved to Stockton in 1982 to begin our professional life here as optometrists. We joined Dr. Hisaka and Dr. Prima as partners. At that time we were impressed with their professional values but also with their community values. They taught us that when a community is good to you, you need to be good to the community.

Over the years our practice grew and in 1998 we combined our practice with two other practices in Stockton (and have since added a third) to form Brookside Optometric Group. We looked for other doctors who shared our concern for patients but also for our town as a whole.