Heise Award

The Leonard Heise Award is presented to non-medical eye bankers in recognition of their outstanding devotion to the EBAA's development and for exemplifying the precepts of Leonard Heise, a major contributor to the fight against blindness and one of the EBAA's founders. This award is given at the Annual Meeting.

Recipients of the award must meet the following qualifications:
  1. An individual must have been associated with the EBAA for an accredited eye bank for at least 10 years.
  2. An individual must have made significant contributions to eye banking at a national and/or international level, as well as at a local level. Examples of national level contributions are serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the EBAA or as chair of an EBAA committee, as well as volunteer services that enhance the mission of the national association.  On a local level, the nominee also must have demonstrated a positive influence, representing eye banking in his/her local eye bank area by working collaboratively with other organizations or at a community level. 
  3. A letter endorsing the nomination must be signed by at least one of the following from the nominee's eye bank: Board President, Executive Director and/or Medical Director.
  4. The nominee's local, national and international contributions to the EBAA and eye banking must be submitted in writing as part of the endorsement letter, or the endorsement letter must include an attached resume/CV.

Dean Vavra (left) presenting Bruce Varnum with the 2011 Heise Award during EBAA’s 50th Anniversary Gala, June 25, 2011

Heise Awardees

  • 2011: Bruce Varnum
  • 2010: Dean Vavra
  • 2009: Monty Montoya
  • 2007: Brenda Horn
  • 2006: Linda Fraser
  • 2005: Barbara Crow
  • 2004: Florence Johnston
  • 2003: Gerald J. Cole
  • 2002: Mary Beth Danneffel-Mandelkorn
  • 2001: Ginger Miller
  • 2000: Patricia Dahl
  • 1999: Marilyn Lindenauer
  • 1998: John Requard, III
  • 1997: Mary Jane O'Neill
  • 1996: Frances Hughes
  • 1995: Ellen Heck
  • 1993: Fredrick Griffith
  • 1992: PID Gene Polgar
  • 1991: Donna Oiland
  • 1990: Margaret Kelm
  • 1989: C. W. Temples
  • 1988: Emile J. Farge, PhD
  • 1986: Jake Watson
  • 1985: Y. T. Abernathy
  • 1984: A. Howard Snyder
  • 1983: W. M. Goldfinch
  • 1982: Orville Gauthier
  • 1981: R. Kenneth Hudgins
  • 1980: Geraldine & Leroy Skouby