Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been named the recipient of the 2026 Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award in recognition of his leadership in developing the Ohio Student Eye Exam program, known as OhioSEE.
The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness will formally present the award during a virtual event on September 11, 2026.
The annual award recognizes individuals or groups whose work has strengthened public health approaches to children’s vision and eye health at the state or national level.
DeWine recognized for OhioSEE program
DeWine was nominated for the award for his role in creating what Prevent Blindness described as a sustainable system of eye care for children across Ohio, supported by a $25 million allocation.
In 2024, DeWine formed the Children’s Vision Strike Force to address a persistent gap in children’s vision care: students who did not pass certified vision screenings were not always receiving the follow-up eye exams and glasses they needed.
He later developed OhioSEE with the goal of improving the system of vision and eye health care available to children throughout the state.
The program brings comprehensive eye exams directly to schools through mobile vision vans and temporary clinics.
During OhioSEE’s initial year, 1,900 children received comprehensive eye examinations and 1,200 received a free pair of eyeglasses, according to Prevent Blindness.
The program is currently supporting services in 15 Ohio counties: Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Jackson, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross.
Prevent Blindness also reported that DeWine has allocated $25 million through the Rural Health Transformation Fund to expand OhioSEE statewide and support additional ways of delivering eye exams to children who need them.
Bringing follow-up vision care into schools
A central feature of OhioSEE is its focus on what happens after a child does not pass a vision screening.
Screening can identify children who may need further evaluation, but it does not replace a comprehensive eye exam. OhioSEE is designed to help connect those students with the next level of care.
DeWine said the program was created after he and his wife, Fran, learned that many children were not receiving the comprehensive eye exams and follow-up vision care they needed.
“OhioSEE brings vision care directly to the child in their school, so no child is missed.”
— Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio
He added that seeing children receive and try on new glasses has demonstrated the impact the program can have on students and their ability to succeed in the classroom.
Prevent Blindness highlights statewide leadership
Amy Pulles, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness Ohio, said DeWine’s involvement shows the progress that can be made when children’s vision care receives attention at the highest levels of state government.
She also credited the development of OhioSEE with bringing together local, state, and national expertise to address gaps in care and build a funded statewide program.
Donna Fishman, executive director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health, said the program demonstrates the impact state and local leaders can have when they make healthy vision a priority for children.
The National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health established the Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award in 2014. It honors the work of Bonnie Strickland, who helped advance the development of comprehensive systems for children’s vision in the United States.
Past recipients have included Eye Thrive, the Alcon Children’s Vision Center, Danielle Crull of A Child’s Eyes and the Truffles the Kitty Organization, and pediatric ophthalmologist Donny W. Suh, MD.
Recognition for a growing children’s vision initiative
The 2026 award puts national attention on OhioSEE at a time when the program is preparing for wider expansion across the state.
For professionals involved in school vision screening, pediatric eye care, and public health, the announcement also reinforces the importance of connecting screening with appropriate follow-up care.
Good-Lite has long supported pediatric vision screening with tools designed for children, including LEA SYMBOLS® vision tests and screening materials. As programs such as OhioSEE expand access to eye exams and glasses, reliable screening remains an important first step in identifying children who may need further evaluation.
The Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award will be presented virtually on September 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. CT and 10 a.m. ET.
Source
Prevent Blindness / PR Newswire, “Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine Named Recipient of the 12th Annual Bonnie Strickland Champion for Children’s Vision Award, Presented by the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness,” September 3, 2026.
