{"id":213579,"date":"2024-05-02T16:07:32","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T20:07:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=213579"},"modified":"2025-09-29T11:03:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T15:03:41","slug":"farewell-to-the-class-of-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2024\/05\/farewell-to-the-class-of-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Farewell to the Class of 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, students and faculty gathered to say farewell to the Class of 2024 and celebrate their many accomplishments before walking the stage for UConn Health\u2019s 53rd<\/sup> commencement on May 6.<\/p>\n

The yearly celebration includes well-wishes from faculty, a presentation of student and faculty awards, and the opportunity for the students to gather and socialize with their classmates one last time before heading to their residency placements or private practice.<\/p>\n

Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean, said: “On behalf of the entire School of Dental Medicine community, I congratulate each of our soon to be new graduates for completing, arguably, the most challenging and rigorous dental education program anywhere. In doing so, we are confident that you are prepared to enter the profession as exceptionally well trained and competent beginning practitioners \u2013 and you are exceptionally well poised to face the challenges of the next phase of your professional careers.”<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be a time when you will be able to look back and reflect upon the past few years and realize that this experience will have had a life-changing impact on who you are, as a person, as a dentist, and as a member of society, ” Lepowsky continued. “The majority of you will be entering residency programs in a few weeks, but regardless of that next step \u2013 I encourage you to continue to learn and grow with the same enthusiasm and spirit that you have demonstrated with us.”<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratulations to each of you and those who will receive awards to recognize your accomplishments,\u201d said Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for students.\u00a0 \u201cThis time of year is always sentimental for me, having watched you grow from first year students into professionals who will contribute to the community and serve your patients with the talent you arrived here with and the skills that you developed while here.\u00a0 I feel blessed to have been a part of your educational journey, seeing your dedication and passion that earned you the best award, the title of \u2018Doctor.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Kathlene Gerrity, executive director of the CSDA, brought greetings and congratulations from the Connecticut State Dental Association, and Dr. Ron Birmingham, current president of the dental alumni association spoke on behalf of the alumni.<\/p>\n

The student awards were selected by the senior awards committee, a committee made up of a group of faculty, with nominations from faculty from each of the School\u2019s disciplines. The full list of awards and award winners is below.<\/p>\n

ENDODONTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Association of Endodontists Student Achievement Award<\/strong>
\nStephanie Quezada<\/p>\n

GENERAL DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Academy of General Dentistry Senior Student Dental Award<\/strong>
\nLindsay Witt<\/p>\n

Academy of Operative Dentistry Award<\/strong>
\nLogan Zhang<\/p>\n

American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Student Award of Merit<\/strong>
\nSamantha Sheppard<\/p>\n

The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry<\/strong>
\nRyan Oleynik<\/p>\n

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL PATHOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dental Student Award<\/strong>
\nArvene Golbazi
\nTetiana Winarskyj<\/p>\n

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n

Allan B. Reiskin Award<\/strong>
\nMaayan Schmidt<\/p>\n

American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award <\/strong>
\nJacob Dubrosky<\/p>\n

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Academy of Implant Dentistry Student Award <\/strong>
\nRyan Oleynik<\/p>\n

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\nMishil Nana<\/p>\n

American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant\u00a0 Award<\/strong>
\nJohn H. Bruppacher<\/p>\n

American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award (William H. Bell Award) <\/strong>
\nTudor Ilies<\/p>\n

Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Dental Student in Implant Dentistry<\/strong>
\nMishil Nana<\/p>\n

Connecticut Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award<\/strong>
\nJay Dalal<\/p>\n

Dr. Richard G. Topazian Prize <\/strong>
\nBarbara Shehata<\/p>\n

Horace Wells Senior Student Award from the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology <\/strong>
\nRyan Higgins<\/p>\n

International Congress of Oral Implantologists\/Dentsply Student Achievement Award <\/strong>
\nLogan Zhang<\/p>\n

ORAL MEDICINE<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Academy of Oral Medicine Award\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>
\nClaire Bisch<\/p>\n

ORTHODONTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Association of Orthodontists Award <\/strong>
\nMaayan Schmidt<\/p>\n

Dr. Surender Nanda Memorial Award <\/strong>
\nTyler James<\/p>\n

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Certificate of Merit<\/strong>
\nJacob\u00a0 Dubrosky<\/p>\n

Special Care Dentistry Association\/Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award <\/strong>
\nCaroline Thomas<\/p>\n

PERIODONTOLOGY<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Academy of Periodontology Award<\/strong>
\nRyan Higgins<\/p>\n

Northeastern Society of Periodontists Award <\/strong>
\nMadeline Sturm<\/p>\n

The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics <\/strong>
\nCory Zeng<\/p>\n

PROSTHODONTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n

American College of Prosthodontists Achievement Award <\/strong>
\nJulia Mainelli<\/p>\n

American Prosthodontic Society Award<\/strong>
\nEmma Masse<\/p>\n

HanauTM<\/sup> Best of the Best Prosthodontic Award <\/strong>
\nRobert Oleynik<\/p>\n

Kohrman Award <\/strong>
\nJulia Mainelli<\/p>\n

SENIOR AWARDS COMMITTEE AWARDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

American Association of Public Health Dentistry<\/strong>
\nNathalia Hernandez<\/p>\n

Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford Student Leadership Award<\/strong>
\nTyler James<\/p>\n

Dr. Robert G. Levine Award<\/strong>
\nAlexandra Estanislau<\/p>\n

Friends of the School of Dental Medicine \u2013 Fox Award<\/strong>
\nRyan Oleynik<\/p>\n

International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award<\/strong>
\nAlyssa Maurin<\/p>\n

International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award <\/strong>
\nJerry\u00a0 Gargano<\/p>\n

Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry (SCAD)<\/strong>
\nJessica Janton<\/p>\n

The Brian D. Stone Student Memorial Award<\/strong>
\nBarbara Shehata<\/p>\n

The Dr. Loeb Prize<\/strong>
\nJacob Molgano<\/p>\n

The Pierre Fauchard Academy Award <\/strong>
\nAnthony Perez-Pino<\/p>\n

The Quintessence Award for Research Achievement <\/strong>
\nMax Einbinder<\/p>\n

University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Professional Development Award<\/strong>
\nBrian Kupchak<\/p>\n

Olmstead Prize in Geriatrics<\/strong>
\nSarah Hyman<\/p>\n

Academic Achievement Award 2024 Sponsored by the Provost\u2019s Commission on the Status of Women, the UConn Alumni Association, and the Women\u2019s Center <\/strong>
\nNathalia Hernandez<\/p>\n

American Association of Women Dentists Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award<\/strong>
\nKaitlyn Solano<\/p>\n

American College of Dentists Outstanding Student Leadership Award (Yankee Dental Congress) <\/strong>
\nJerry\u00a0 Gargano<\/p>\n

Kaiser Permanente Teaching Award (Faculty)<\/strong>
\nDr. John Agar<\/p>\n

The South Park Inn Dental Clinic Award<\/strong>
\nEmma Anne Dzialo
\nDr. Thomas Taylor<\/p>\n

Health Careers Mentorship Award<\/strong>
\nAshley Brandon<\/p>\n

Health Careers Bridge Award<\/strong>
\nTyler Hailey James
\nBarbara Shehata
\nKolbe Laing<\/p>\n

Phi Chi Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon 2023 Inductees<\/strong>
\nTyler James
\nJulia Mainelli
\nMaayan Schmidt
\nBarbara Shehata
\nJacob Dubrosky<\/p>\n

2023 ASDA Award of Excellence <\/strong>
\nMaayan Schmidt<\/p>\n

The Alumni Relations Award<\/strong>
\nJerry Gargano<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The School of Dental Medicine celebrates the accomplishments of fourth year students ahead of commencement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":213636,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2166,179],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[2177],"class_list":["post-213579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sdm","category-uconn-health"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-08 11:30:21","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213579"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":213638,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213579\/revisions\/213638"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/213636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213579"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=213579"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=213579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}