Wayne Community College recognized the 15 members of its Dental Assisting class of 2017 in a pinning ceremony July 26.
The annual service denotes the end of the students’ academic journey and welcomes them into the dental profession. It includes formal presentation of pins to each graduate by the program’s faculty and introduction of the graduates to the audience as dental assistants.
In commenting on how the graduates had met the challenges of the program, Dental Assisting Instructor Monika Donnelly said, “This is just the beginning of your journey, so today take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go.”
Dr. John E. Fidler Jr. of Eastern Carolina Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery was the guest speaker. After talking about the history of dentistry, he told the graduates that the field is rapidly changing but that they “will be able to take these skills and go anywhere.”
“Do what you have been taught here and do it well,” Dr. Fidler said.
This year’s graduates are
Brooke Barfield and Amy Barnett of Goldsboro,
Miesha Boseman and Erin Hulsey of Pikeville,
Sherry Allgeier of Kinston,
Victoria Dupree of Washington, N.C.,
Aspen Goodwin of Ayden,
Erica Johnson of Bailey,
Stacey Justice of Garner,
Carina Martinez and Victoria Tello of Greenville,
Holly Raynor of Benson,
Yolanda Smith of Garland,
Taylor Tripp of Benson, and
Hannah Warren of Newton Grove.
Four students were honored for outstanding performance.
Smith accepted the Clinical Achievement Award for both a high clinical grade point average and outstanding reviews from rotation sites. It was noted that Smith had demonstrated excellent patient care, professionalism, enthusiasm, and self-motivation.
Warren earned the Academic Achievement Award for the highest grade point average while in the dental assisting program. Presenter Brandy Wilkins, the program’s clinical coordinator, said “the award is a testament to hard work, good study skills, and dedication to always doing your best.”
Martinez garnered the Expanded Functions Achievement Award. She exceeded the requisite number of these “extra” functions that dental assisting students can only perform in the last two semesters of their training.
Tripp won the Patient Care Award for overall positive attitude and genuine care and concern for patients. Wilkins said that Tripp “truly enjoys the dental assistant role” and exhibited professionalism, compassion, teamwork, and enthusiasm. Her name will be added to a plaque that hangs in the college’s dental clinic.
It was noted that Barfield, Barnett, Boseman, Dupree, and Tello had served as officers in the Dental Assisting Student Association (DASA) and that Hulsey, Tripp and Warren were Student Government Association representatives.
The Dental Assisting class of 2017 presented a donation to the Foundation of Wayne Community College in “appreciation for all that the foundation has done for students to be financially able to accomplish their dreams,” said DASA treasurer Boseman.
Graduates who pass the Dental Assisting National Board examination can work as certified dental assistants.
Wayne Community College’s Dental Assisting Program is a limited-admission, three-semester diploma program. It is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
Wayne Community College is a public, two-year college located in Goldsboro with an open-door admission policy. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, it serves 14,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 100 college credit programs.