Topics at a glance: 2009 Senior Awards Banquet: Memories steal the show...Dental Branch supports March of Dimes March for Babies...Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society holds annual banquet...CANCELLED: May 2 Special Olympics screening...Coming June 11: Annual University Classified Staff Workshop ...

2009 Senior Awards Banquet: Memories steal the show

Huge screens in the United Way banquet hall allowed diners to see videos produced by the Class of 2009 at the annual Senior Awards Banquet. Photo by Rhonda Moran.

The Class of 2009 Senior Awards Banquet began with a pop quiz and ended with good-natured laughter, with plenty of applause and honors in between. Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., praised the class for their extensive community involvement that began with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, just as the students were beginning their studies at The University of Texas Dental Branch. In all, 51 awards were presented before the “official” ceremony ended and officers of the Class of 2009 took over. Class historian Sanaz Ekhlassi had the audience laughing with “A Trip Down Memory Lane,” a lively video depicting the dental school experience, as well as spoofs of faculty, staff and fellow students.FULL STORY

Dental Branch supports March of Dimes March for Babies

Dental Branch walkers included (from left) Debbie Noel, Stephen Chen, Dr. John Valenza, Dr. Catherine Flaitz, Vanessa Panel, Rachel Garrett, Dr. Bret Ibarra, Brenden Taylor, Dr. Sandy Fenton, Katya Shevchenko, Jennifer Rosebrook (SPH), Mamie Ellis and Dr. Gisela Velasquez. Many team members are are not pictured.

The March of Dimes “March for Babies” had plenty of Team UT shirts for the 5-mile walk Saturday, April 26. Nearly 40 walkers who signed up as part of the Dental Branch team raised approximately $1,500, according to team captain Vanessa Ponce, who noted that second-year dental student Zarina Rasheed raised about $1,000 of the $1,500 total on her own. Ponce said donations are still coming in, so it’s possible the Dental Branch total may go higher. The March of Dimes estimates that 35,000 volunteers turned out Sunday to raise funds to support research so that all babies are born healthy and on time.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society holds annual banquet

New alumni members of Omicron Kappa Upsilon include (from left) Jonathan McEwen, Drew Darsey, Jason Flores, Jennifer Kong, Steven “Chad” Goodman, Aileen Wang, Charles Nguyen and Daniel San Martin. Inductee Julia Javarone is not pictured. Photo by Darrell Gonzales.

The Mu Mu Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society held its annual convocation banquet April 9 at Trevisio in the John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons. The guest speaker was Houston dentist S. Jerry Long, D.D.S. (’66), who currently serves as a trustee for the 15th district of the American Dental Association. A special guest for the occasion was Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., president of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The OKU convocation banquet is an annual event, and as an honor society, OKU chooses its members carefully. Only the top 12 percent of the graduating class of students may be chosen annually. Candidates are selected on the basis of academic rank, integrity, leadership and their activities at the UT Dental Branch. FULL STORY.

CANCELLED: May 2 Special Olympics screening

Due to special circumstances, the Special Olympics Special Smiles event, which was scheduled for Saturday, May 2 at Strake Jesuit Preparatory, has been postponed until further notice. A new date for the event is being arranged and will be announced as soon as it is confirmed.

Coming June 11: Annual University Classified Staff Workshop

The 14th Annual University Classified Staff Workshop is set for 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11 in the auditorium of the UT Brown Foundation Institute for Molecular Medicine. The guest speaker will be David L. Meinz, RD, FADA, CSP and the topic this year is “You Be In Charge; Health Matters.” To register to receive an invitation to attend the workshop, visit http://www.uth.tmc.edu/ucsc/workshop/2009/workshop.htm to fill out the online submission form. Registration will be accepted through May 18. You must have you supervisor’s permission to attend