Eversight honors the memory of late technician Noah Moore by empowering eye bank professionals to grow, learn and lead. The Noah Moore Scholarship for Technical Advancement supports Eversight clinical technicians with sponsorship to attend the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) Annual Meeting—offering an opportunity to deepen expertise, expand professional networks and explore new ways to advance the gift of sight.
Noah Moore’s career at Eversight was defined by his personal drive, passion for excellence and commitment to innovation. His work directly impacted thousands of lives, and his legacy lives on through this scholarship created in his name. In 2025, the scholarship will sponsor two team members at the EBAA Annual Meeting in San Diego, customizing their experience to support their personal development and strengthen Eversight’s mission.
Three past awardees—Arielle Cox, Michaela Pelton and Kory Mace—shared how the experiences the Noah Moore Scholarship afforded them has shaped their perspectives and their work.
Expanding knowledge beyond the lab
For Tissue Recovery Manager Arielle Cox—who was relatively new to eye banking at the time of the 2023 conference—the EBAA Annual Meeting opened the door to a broader understanding of the field.
“I went to a variety of classes that included helping families and staff in grief, learning the DSAEK process, dissecting tissue for research and many more,” she said. “I am taking this knowledge and using it for a growth opportunity for not only myself, but also my staff and Eversight as a whole.”
Beyond the classroom sessions, Arielle said the meeting gave her a chance to ‘connect the dots’ between departments, deepen her appreciation for the mission and build relationships with fellow professionals across the country.
“Attending the EBAA conference had a significant impact on my leadership by broadening my perspective beyond the recovery department,” Arielle said. “I gained insight into the entire process of eye banking, from start to finish, and had the opportunity to explore other departments and their roles. This experience enhanced my understanding of Eversight and its full scope of operations.”
Learning the “why” behind surgical preferences
For Clinical Processing Technician Michaela Pelton, one of the biggest takeaways was hearing directly from surgeons whose tissue she’s helped prepare.
“It was great to hear surgeons talk about their processing preferences and how it impacts their surgeries,” Michaela said. “I love learning why surgeons have the preferences that they do. It helps me get a better idea on how to navigate any challenges that may arise when I’m processing.”
That deeper understanding of surgeons' needs and the many different approaches used by eye banks nationwide gave Michaela more confidence to explore innovation in her own work.
“I’ve always been willing to try new processes but hearing about the differences in how every eye bank does the same procedure has made me a little more fearless when it comes to trying new things,” she said. “It’s really fun and extremely rewarding when it works.”
Seeing the bigger picture of eye banking
Clinical Processing Technician Kory Mace was struck by how eye banking reaches far beyond daily tasks—and how much Eversight is recognized in the wider community.
“Being there and seeing all the other eye banks, it was really impactful,” Kory said. “It was kind of reaffirming, especially for Eversight, having this big presence there and everybody knowing who we are. I’m part of such an important organization.”
One moment that stood out for him was a session where donor families spoke in front of a room of surgeons and professionals.
“That was really awesome to see up close,” he said. “The biggest impact was seeing how much bigger the world of eye banking is and how much is being done to help people with corneal blindness. The research too is amazing to see, what's coming up next.”
The power of networking and shared learning
All three Noah More Scholarship awardees highlighted how valuable it was to meet other professionals in the field, put faces to names and build long-term connections.
“The eye banking community is a close-knit group of supportive individuals, all dedicated to helping each other and providing the gift of sight to as many people as possible,” Arielle said. “Everyone was so welcoming and generous with their expertise.”
Kory added that networking helped solidify connections he had started building through a virtual EBAA technician seminar and gave him the opportunity to represent Eversight’s Chicago team while meeting colleagues from across the country.
Honoring a legacy of passion and excellence
Each awardee spoke about how meaningful it was to receive a scholarship named for someone who embodied the values of excellence, curiosity and compassion.
“I was really honored to receive the Noah Moore Scholarship,” Michaela said. “It was amazing that I got to go to EBAA and learn more about my industry and improve my understanding of my job. My husband knew Noah personally and has nothing but kind words to say about him. I think this is an excellent way to honor the memory of someone who was so positive and bright.”
Kory agreed, adding, “I was asked to create this essay for the Noah Moore scholarship. I did my research and found out more about him [Noah] and the EBAA. It just kind of spurned a little bit more curiosity out of me as well.”
Investing in education to strengthen the future of eye banking
The Noah Moore Scholarship reflects Eversight’s commitment to professional development and its belief that investing in employees helps strengthen the entire organization. From exposure to new processes and research to forging new friendships and a deeper appreciation of the mission, the EBAA Annual Meeting offers a transformative opportunity for growth.
“We should never take research and education for granted,” Michaela said. “It’s what helps us understand our industry better and move forward with innovation.”
Eversight team members from across the organization will present at and attend the 2025 EBAA Annual Meeting in San Diego June 25-28.
