Summer Celebration of Donors honors 70 members of President's Club

The School of Dentistry hosted an in-person Summer Celebration of Donors for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, June 8.

Nearly seventy members of the President’s Club, alongside other notable donors, came together to celebrate the School of Dentistry and honor the ways donors make achievement possible. The School of Dentistry offered a special welcome to new President’s Club members Stephen Bejarano, DDS ’91 and Elizabeth Rydell Bejarano, DDS ’91 (pictured with Dean Mays above).

The University of Minnesota President’s Club recognizes University-wide cumulative giving, including pledges for gifts to be made within the next five years, at various levels signifying a marked generosity to the university. Members of the Dean’s Circle, also in attendance, are those who give $1,000 or more annually to the Dentistry Fund for Achievement, Dental School Scholarships Fund or the Dental Hygiene Fund.

In addition to a gathering celebration, the evening included a presentation from Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, who thanked donors for their generosity and provided an update on the School of Dentistry.

“Your support is essential for the success of our students, faculty, research and community,” Mays reflected. “Your President’s Club membership signifies your exceptional philanthropic support to the school and the university. We value your contributions and always will.”

Mays recognized students in attendance who know first hand how donors have an impact on the dental school journey, including Emerson Gonyea, DDS ’23, Suad Adan, BSDH ’23, Missy Berget, BSDH ’22, MDT ’23 and Karen Bird, BSDH ’22, MDT ’23.

Reflecting on the pains and challenges of the next two years, Mays shared, “there were bright spots through the dark times.” He recalled the group of faculty and researchers who worked to understand the aerosolization of the COVID-19 virus and how to safely treat patients, the creation of the Student Emergency Fund and more.

Mays shared updates on the School of Dentistry, including an effort to increase alumni engagement with students through the alumni lunch and learn series and the newly-launched Alumni Insights program. He recognized the great achievements of School of Dentistry community members, including Amy Tasca, DDS, PhD, the first recipient of the Robert J. Isaacson Chair in Orthodontics, and Mohammed Akl, DDS, MS, the first recipient of the Graduate Prosthodontics Research Scholarship. Mays also shared the ways donors are directly impacting research through the Oral Health Clinical Research Center.

Finally, Mays introduced Learners to Leaders, the Drive for School of Dentistry Students, a transformational fundraising campaign for student support. “We are calling on all of you, champions for our school, to consider investing in this important initiative,” Mays said. “Together, we can achieve greatness.”

The School of Dentistry is grateful for the donors and volunteers who enable our students’ and faculty’s success. Learn more about giving to the School of Dentistry.