Camille Kim, Class of 2026, earned second place in the American Optometric Student Association (AOSA) Optometry Student Bowl powered by EssilorLuxottica. The event is an annual, high-energy quiz competition held during Optometry’s Meeting, where students from optometry schools across the nation compete in a buzzer-based trivia showdown.

Kim previously won the school’s Student Bowl earlier in the year, which allowed her to represent the school nationally. Despite a busy schedule leading up to the event, she managed to squeeze in preparation time, brushing up on facts up to five minutes before the competition began.

“The atmosphere was electric,” Kim said. “It was super loud, which made it hard to hear the questions, and since the game was all about speed, that added a whole new layer of challenge. But it was so much fun.”

Kim’s background in scholastic quiz bowls gave her a competitive edge. “I used to do quiz bowls when I was younger, so I was used to the pressure and the speed. That definitely helped me stay calm and focused.”

Although she won the schoolwide competition, Kim wasn’t sure she could travel to the national competition due to associated costs. Thanks to the support of Professor Lawrence Sincich, PhD, and a generous grant from the AOSA, she was able to make the trip and represent UAB Optometry with pride.