Banquet honors Dental Therapy Class of 2024

The Division of Dental Therapy celebrated its seven graduating learners with a banquet on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

The Class of 2024 gathered with faculty and staff to celebrate their accomplishments together before embarking on their separate paths.

“For those who are counting, you are the twelfth class of dental therapy students to graduate from our program,” reflected Karl Self, DDS, MBA, director of the Division of Dental Therapy and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in his opening remarks. “You have gone through a lot together, and this journey has been filled with challenges, late nights of studying and moments of self doubt. Yet, you have taken this journey together, as a group, and your camaraderie and commitment to each other will be invaluable assets for you as you enter this evolving profession.”

Jenna Johnson, MDT ’16, represented the School of Dentistry Alumni Society Board at the celebration.

“On behalf of the School of Dentistry Alumni Society and the almost 10,000 living alumni that have gone before you, I offer you our congratulations and sincere welcome to the ranks of alumni,” she said. Johnson encouraged the graduates to stay connected to the school and their alumni society.

In addition to sharing remarks, Johnson presented the Karl D. Self Student Achievement Award. The award is presented each year to one senior dental therapy student in recognition of outstanding leadership, scholarship and personal character. The 2024 award was presented to Kaitlyn Niemann.

Kaitlyn Niemann, president of the Class of 2024, Danica Brannon, vice president, and Pedro Lopez Vega, vice president, then provided remarks reflecting on their journey and shared a slideshow of images and memories from throughout the years.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our lives,” reflected Lopez Vega. “I’m reminded of an old friend and his quote: ‘A smooth sea never made an experienced sailor.’ I can guarantee that the seas we navigated through were choppy at times. We’ve gone through quite a bit together, and if I had to do it all over again, I would choose the people that stand before me to do it with.”

Lopez Vega reflected on the experiences he and his classmates had together as he looked toward the future.

“We learned the value of friendship, we encouraged ourselves to work hard, we reminded ourselves of the importance of giving ourselves and others grace. We learned from failure, grew through adversity and became stronger with each challenge,” he said. “As we step out into the world, let us carry those lessons and approach the future with courage and optimism. As a new chapter of our lives raises to unfold before us, let us face this challenge. Let us make this contribution to bettering our communities around us and go forth in confidence. May the journey ahead be filled with endless possibilities and remarkable achievements.”  

Concluding the program, Self reflected on his own graduation from the School of Dentistry 40 years ago and shared words of wisdom with the graduates.

“You have been prepared for this and for future challenges,” he said to the class. “I believe that you have the passion within you to improve the oral health of the communities you will be serving. I believe you have the commitment to make a positive impact in the lives of your patients each and every day.”

Congratulations to the seven learners who make up the School of Dentistry Dental Therapy Class of 2024!