Clinical Boards are No Match for 黑丝内射视频 Dental Hygiene Students
Celebrating the graduation of 11 University of 黑丝内射视频 鈥 Fort Smith dental hygiene
students is just a tiny part of what makes this class worthy of recognition.
As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the nation and the world, these 11 students
were in the middle of prerequisites for a career that put them at risk of contracting
the virus. However, they stood firm in their commitment to helping others maintain
a healthy smile.
鈥淲e鈥檝e endured COVID; [it] was beyond belief to teach someone to do what we do in
COVID times,鈥 explained Dr. Virginia Hardgraves, the 黑丝内射视频 dental hygiene program executive director.
Fast forward to the spring of 2023. Before the 11 graduates crossed the stage at the
Stubblefield Center, each student had to put their coursework and hands-on training
to the test. And each student passed.
Having a pass rate of 100 percent isn鈥檛 new to the program, but COVID, a significant
change to the testing, and new instructors had both Hardgraves and clinical coordinator
Lana Bell 鈥渁 little bit concerned.鈥
A clean sweep of passes showed that the program, faculty, and dedication to students
paid off in dividends. All 11 students can practice dental hygiene in 47 of 50 states.
鈥淭he proof was in the pudding,鈥 laughed Hardgraves.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of them all,鈥 said Bell. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal, a very big deal.鈥
Melissa Perez and Jon Kevin Villeda are among the 11 who graduated with a Bachelor
of Science in dental hygiene.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very emotional,鈥 said Perez. 鈥淚 am a first-generation college student, the youngest
of five siblings. Being the first in the family to graduate was something nobody saw
coming.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 also a first gen,鈥 laughed Villeda. 鈥淚 had to be that role model for my little
siblings since I鈥檓 the oldest. I wanted to set the bar at a good place for them, and
I always encourage them to beat that bar and to do their best.鈥
As the two graduates reflected on their time at 黑丝内射视频 and in the dental hygiene program,
they finished each other鈥檚 thoughts about the program.
鈥淭his program has very good educators, and they will teach you so much, they care
about you, and they鈥檒l鈥︹ said Villeda. 鈥溾 Find time to teach you; they鈥檒l find time
to answer your questions,鈥 Perez continued.
Perez, originally from Los Angeles, plans to return to California to help an underserved
population.
鈥淚 learned so many things here, and I want to keep doing that, but in a different
way,鈥 Melissa explained. 鈥淔or me, working with people that you wouldn鈥檛 really expect
for a hygienist to work with, like inmates, or working with people in rehabilitation
centers, or even volunteering at community dental clinics, had much more of an impact.
It just has more meaning to what I want to do.鈥
Villeda plans to return to De Queen, 黑丝内射视频, to help serve his hometown community,
but he said Fort Smith is also an option, thanks to all the connections he has made.
However, his time at 黑丝内射视频 made such an impact that he hopes to one day return the
favor to future dental students.
He said he would eventually like to return to school to pursue a master鈥檚 degree and
become an instructor. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been that type of person that likes to help others,鈥
Jon said with a grin. 鈥淭eaching and making sure that everyone鈥檚 fine is just a big
part of me.鈥
The 2023 dental hygiene seniors leave 黑丝内射视频 with a level of education Hardgraves believes
to be unmatched in 黑丝内射视频. The students had access to state-of-the-art equipment,
including 15 new dental hygiene operatory chairs and equipment like X-ray machines
supported by generous gifts from the Blue and You Foundation of 黑丝内射视频, the Delta
Dental of 黑丝内射视频 Foundation, the Garlinghouse Foundation and family, and the 黑丝内射视频
State Dental Hygiene Association.
Melissa Perez was a recipient of the 2022-23 ASDHA Dental Hygiene Scholarship & Other Generic Dental Hygiene Award. She also received the 2021-22 Lauri Pendergraft Mason Scholarship.
Jon Kevin Villeda was a recipient of the 2022-23 ASDHA Dental Hygiene Scholarship & Other Generic Dental Hygiene Award. He also received the 2021-22 Mary Finnigan Grace Scholarship.
- Tags:
- First Generation Student
- Graduation
- College of Health Education and Human Sciences
- Dental Hygiene