Topics at a glance: Scholarships make life easier for UTDB students … SNDA bicycle raffle nets $1,000 … Rucker Elementary parents, students learn about dental hygiene … UTDB eFlash! going on hiatus till 2008

Scholarships
make life easier
for UTDB students

Twenty-six scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 have been awarded at the UT Dental Branch so far in academic year 2007-08, with more to be presented in the spring.

Phil Pierpont, D.D.S., associate dean for student and alumni affairs, said most of the scholarships are awarded annually and the majority go to first-year dental or dental hygiene students. One exception is the Heyl G. Tebo, D.D.S., Scholarship presented around this time every year. On Dec. 13, the “Tebo” was awarded to two advanced education students, Leslie Fullerton, D.D.S., and Brian Duncan, D.D.S.

The Texas Dental Association’s Smiles Foundation scholarships also became available this month and were presented last week. This year’s winners are first-year DDS students Aegean Phamnguyen and Victoria Ramirez.

Click here for a list of other UTDB scholarship winners in 2007-08.

Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S., was on hand for the Dec. 13 presentation of the Heyl G. Tebo, D.D.S. Scholarships that went this year to advanced education students Brian Duncan, D.D.S., (left) and Leslie Fullerton, D.D.S.

First-year dental students Victoria Ramirez and Aegean Phamnguyen are this year’s winners of the Texas Dental Association Smiles Foundation scholarships. The students are pictured with UTDB Dean Catherine M. Flaitz, D.D.S.  Photos by Brian Schnupp

Rucker Elementary parents, students learn about dental hygiene

UTDB dental hygiene students who participated in the Lights on After School” event at Rucker Elementary were (kneeling, from left) Connie Deleon, Melissa Alvarez, (standing, from left) Mandie Braband, Chelsea Read, Jennifer Cassarino, Feiona Maxwell, Sandra Villaquiran, Laura Dosch and Christine Jenkins.

Dental hygiene students from the UT Dental Branch volunteered at the “Lights on After School” event in October at Rucker Elementary School in East Houston. The event’s goal was to raise health awareness and provide health information for children and parents in the low-income neighborhood. Approximately 150 children and parents watched and listened to the different presentations.

The DH students gave a kid-friendly and informative PowerPoint presentation, along with animated characters like “Molly the Molar” and “Mr. Sugar Bug.” Oral hygiene instructions were given at a booth outside the auditorium. After showing the children and parents how to brush their teeth properly, the students distributed free toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss, along with informative pamphlets about oral hygiene and healthy nutrition.

Because the school is in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood, parents were invited to come to the booth after the presentation to discuss oral health in Spanish.

Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Professor Richard Bebermeyer, D.D.S., was one of five bicycle raffle winners and the only winner from the Dental Branch.

SNDA bicycle raffle nets $1,000

The UTDB chapter of the Student National Dental Association has announced winners of the bicycle raffle held at the Dental Branch. The raffle raised $1,000, with half going to the children of the late Mina Rosenthal-Eames, a former vice president of the SNDA. The only winner from the Dental Branch was Richard Bebermeyer, D.D.S. Other winners included Dr. Emmers, Dr. Allison Scott, Lurleen Barnes and Brandon Pack.

The SNDA thanked C.D. Johnson, D.D.S., Erin Joseph, D.D.S, Betty Shynett, D.D.S., and Douglas Simmons, D.D.S., for their generous donation in supplying four of the five bikes raffled. The organization also thanked the Dental Branch for its support.