{"id":245523,"date":"2026-05-08T11:19:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=245523"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T17:51:25","slug":"farewell-class-of-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/05\/farewell-class-of-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Farewell, Class of 2026!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After four rigorous years of dental school, members of the Class of 2026 is days away from walking across the stage to receive their Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees.<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of UConn Health\u2019s 55<sup>th<\/sup> Commencement on May 11, the students gathered with their fellow classmates and faculty at the annual senior awards ceremony to celebrate their many accomplishments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wonderplugingallery-container\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-container-470\" style=\"max-width:960px;margin:0 auto;\"><div class=\"wonderplugingallery\" id=\"wonderplugingallery-470\" data-galleryid=\"470\" data-width=\"960\" data-height=\"540\" data-skin=\"gallery\" data-playsinline=\"false\" data-mutevideo=\"false\" data-random=\"false\" data-autoslide=\"false\" data-autoplayvideo=\"false\" data-schemamarkup=\"false\" data-stopallplaying=\"false\" data-reloadonvideoend=\"false\" data-donotuseposter=\"false\" data-enabletabindex=\"false\" data-loadnextonvideoend=\"false\" data-hidetitlewhenvideoisplaying=\"false\" data-disablehovereventontouch=\"false\" data-autoslideandplayafterfirstplayed=\"false\" data-html5player=\"true\" data-responsive=\"true\" data-fullwidth=\"false\" data-showtitle=\"false\" data-showdescription=\"false\" data-showplaybutton=\"true\" data-showfullscreenbutton=\"true\" data-showtimer=\"true\" data-showcarousel=\"true\" data-galleryshadow=\"false\" data-slideshadow=\"true\" data-thumbshowtitle=\"true\" data-thumbshadow=\"true\" data-lightboxshowtitle=\"true\" data-lightboxshowdescription=\"true\" data-specifyid=\"true\" data-donotinit=\"false\" data-addinitscript=\"false\" data-triggerresize=\"false\" data-thumbcolumnsresponsive=\"false\" data-thumbverticalmiddle=\"true\" data-removeinlinecss=\"true\" data-switchonmouseover=\"false\" data-showcategory=\"true\" data-showimgtitle=\"false\" data-titlesmallscreen=\"false\" data-initsocial=\"true\" data-showsocial=\"false\" data-showemail=\"false\" data-showfacebook=\"true\" data-showtwitter=\"true\" data-showpinterest=\"true\" data-socialrotateeffect=\"true\" data-doshortcodeontext=\"false\" data-loop=\"0\" data-duration=\"1500\" data-slideduration=\"1000\" data-slideshowinterval=\"6000\" data-googleanalyticsaccount=\"\" data-resizemode=\"fit\" data-imagetoolboxmode=\"mouseover\" data-effect=\"fade\" data-padding=\"12\" data-bgcolor=\"\" data-bgimage=\"\" data-thumbwidth=\"120\" data-thumbheight=\"60\" data-thumbgap=\"8\" data-thumbrowgap=\"16\" data-lightboxtextheight=\"72\" data-lightboxtitlecss=\"{color:#333333; font:bold 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:18px;}\" data-lightboxdescriptioncss=\"{color:#333333; font:normal 12px Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; overflow:hidden; white-space:normal; line-height:14px;}\" data-titlecss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:14px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; text-align:left; padding:10px 0px 10px 10px; background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-descriptioncss=\"{color:#ffffff; font-size:13px; font-family:Armata, sans-serif, Arial; overflow:hidden; text-align:left; padding:0px 0px 10px 10px; background:rgb(102, 102, 102) transparent; background:rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.6);}\" data-titleheight=\"72\" data-titlesmallscreenwidth=\"640\" data-titleheightsmallscreen=\"148\" data-socialmode=\"mouseover\" data-socialposition=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialpositionlightbox=\"position:absolute;top:8px;right:8px;\" data-socialdirection=\"horizontal\" data-socialbuttonsize=\"32\" data-socialbuttonfontsize=\"18\" data-defaultvideovolume=\"1\" data-thumbtitleheight=\"24\" data-thumbmediumtitleheight=\"48\" data-thumbsmalltitleheight=\"72\" data-categoryheight=\"36\" data-categorydefault=\"all\" data-triggerresizedelay=\"100\" data-thumbmediumsize=\"800\" data-thumbsmallsize=\"480\" data-thumbmediumwidth=\"64\" data-thumbmediumheight=\"64\" data-thumbsmallwidth=\"48\" data-thumbsmallheight=\"48\" data-imgtitle=\"title\" data-categorystyle=\"dropdown\" data-categorylist=\"[{&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;all&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Show All&quot;}]\" data-jsfolder=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/plugins\/wonderplugin-library\/engine\/\" style=\"display:none;\" ><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-56-22-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-56-22-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students and faculty pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students and faculty pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-03-25-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-03-25-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-01-59-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-01-59-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for awards\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for awards<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-01-17-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-01-17-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-00-04-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-00-04-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-59-38-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-59-38-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for award\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for award<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-57-43-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-57-43-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photos\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photos<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-04-12-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-04-12-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students and faculty pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students and faculty pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-23-15-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-23-15-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-22-47-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-22-47-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-17-07-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-17-07-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-16-09-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-7-16-09-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-18-28-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-18-28-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students and faculty pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students and faculty pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-18-07-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-18-07-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students and faculty pose\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students and faculty pose<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-06-50-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-6-06-50-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students and faculty pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students and faculty pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><a class=\"html5galleryimglink\" href=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-55-24-PM-scaled.jpg\" data-mediatype=1><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"html5galleryimg html5gallery-tn-image lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Photo-May-06-2026-5-55-24-PM-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"students pose for photo\" data-title=\"Class of 2026\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 150px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 150\/150;\"><\/a><div class=\"html5gallery-info\"><div class=\"html5gallery-alt\">students pose for photo<\/div><div class=\"html5gallery-title\">Class of 2026<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script>function wondergallery_470_appendcss(csscode) {var head=document.head || document.getElementsByTagName(\"head\")[0];var style=document.createElement(\"style\");head.appendChild(style);style.type=\"text\/css\";if (style.styleSheet){style.styleSheet.cssText=csscode;} else {style.appendChild(document.createTextNode(csscode));}};wondergallery_470_appendcss(\"#wonderplugingallery-470 .html5gallery-cat-selection-470 { \tbox-sizing: border-box; \ttext-align: center; }  #wonderplugingallery-470 .html5gallery-cat-selection-470 select { \tbox-sizing: border-box; \tmargin: 4px auto; }\");<\/script>\n<p>At the celebration, held at the New Britain Museum of American Art, students and faculty were presented with awards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI congratulate each of our soon-to- be new graduates for completing arguably, one of the most challenging and rigorous dental programs anywhere,\u201d said Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, in his remarks. \u201cIn doing so, we are confident that you are well prepared to enter the profession and exceptionally well trained and competent beginning practitioners \u2013 and you are well poised to face the challenges of the next phase of your professional careers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lepowsky continued, \u201cYou may have chosen UConn for your dental education for a variety of reasons. Regardless of the reasons, thank you for letting us be part of your lives and thank you for enriching our school community. Most importantly, thank you in advance for representing the School of Dental Medicine for years to come. You will be carrying on a tradition of excellence that makes us who we are as a school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cynara McPhail, president of the School of Dental Medicine Alumni Association Board and 1984 graduate of the School of Dental Medicine, made remarks to the students.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I know it was not easy and at times downright frustrating,&#8221; said McPhail. &#8220;You probably never thought you would be here tonight.\u00a0 But you are, and your hard work has paid off.\u00a0 You should be proud of all your accomplishments, big and small. In my general practice office, we have soon-to-be four dentists \u2013 all of us have graduated from UConn. In fact, all of the associates I have had, have been UConn grads, largely because I know the education and experience you receive and I know you are ready for private practice. So you can do this!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>During the student awards recognition ceremony, Dr. Foteini Touloumi was announced as this year\u2019s Kaiser Permanente award winner for excellence in teaching and Dr. Hang Le received the South Park Inn Award for outstanding service to the community.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the week, the School of Dental Medicine hosted an induction ceremony for the Phi Chi Chapter of the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) National Dental Honor Society.<\/p>\n<p>Suzanne Allen, Mitchell Andrea, Erin Carroll, Samuel Majek, Lenka Serdar, and Princess Stark were inducted for their outstanding achievements in scholarship, professionalism, and ethics.<\/p>\n<p>Touloumi was also inducted as the faculty inductee.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;OKU honors individuals who have distinguished themselves through academic excellence, strong character, integrity and the promise of future professional achievement,&#8221; said Dr. Bina Katechia, president of the Phi Chi chapter. &#8220;It doesn\u2019t just honor what they have achieved. It reflects the kind of professional they are becoming.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The full list of student awards is below.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Academy of General Dentistry Future Leader in General Dentistry Award<\/strong><br \/>\nAndrea Mitchell<\/p>\n<p><strong>Academy of Operative Dentistry Award<\/strong><br \/>\nMargaret Mirabella<\/p>\n<p><strong>Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Dental Student in Implant Dentistry<\/strong><br \/>\nErin Carroll<\/p>\n<p><strong>ADEA Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford Student Leadership Award<\/strong><br \/>\nStephen Ogarekpe<\/p>\n<p><strong>Allan B. Reiskin Award<\/strong><br \/>\nDemetria Tsitsopoulos<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Student Award of Merit<\/strong><br \/>\nArtime Vinca<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Implant Dentistry Student Award<\/strong><br \/>\nVivian Van<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dental Student Award<\/strong><br \/>\nSuzanne Allen<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award<\/strong><br \/>\nRachel Altamirano<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Oral Medicine Award<\/strong><br \/>\nCody Johnson<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Orofacial Pain Outstanding Senior Award<\/strong><br \/>\nKeelin Hurtt<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Certificate of Merit<\/strong><br \/>\nMaxwell Marks<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Academy of Periodontology Award<\/strong><br \/>\nEvan Perlroth<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Association of Endodontists Student Achievement Award<\/strong><br \/>\nJadon Melecio<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Association of Orthodontists Award<\/strong><br \/>\nMichaela Murdock<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Association of Public Health Dentistry<\/strong><br \/>\nKavya Uddaraju<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Association of Women Dentists Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award<\/strong><br \/>\nAlexis Vasciannie<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award<\/strong><br \/>\nSamuel Majek<\/p>\n<p><strong>American College of Dentists Outstanding Student Leadership Award<\/strong><br \/>\nMaxwell Marks<\/p>\n<p><strong>American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award (William W. Bell Award)<\/strong><br \/>\nGeorge Bloom<\/p>\n<p><strong>American College of Prosthodontists Achievement Award<\/strong><br \/>\nCody Johnson<\/p>\n<p><strong>American Prosthodontic Society Award<\/strong><br \/>\nKim Luu<\/p>\n<p><strong>ASDA Award of Excellence<\/strong><br \/>\nDemitria Tsitsopoulos<\/p>\n<p><strong>Commencement Speaker<\/strong><br \/>\nMaxwell Marks<\/p>\n<p><strong>Connecticut Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Award<\/strong><br \/>\nPasquale Cannata<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. Richard G. Topazian Prize<\/strong><br \/>\nPrincess Stark<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. Robert G. Levine Award<\/strong><br \/>\nThomas Perkins<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. Surender Nanda Memorial Award<\/strong><br \/>\nLingli Zou<\/p>\n<p><strong>EDIC Lamont MacNeil Educational Scholarship<\/strong><br \/>\nSuzanne Allen<\/p>\n<p><strong>Friends of the School of Dental Medicine \u2013 Fox Award<\/strong><br \/>\nSuzanne Allen<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hanau&#x2122; &#8220;Best of the Best&#8221; Prosthodontic Award<\/strong><br \/>\nVlad Ilies<\/p>\n<p><strong>Health Careers Bridge Award<\/strong><br \/>\nJaelon Blandburg<br \/>\nHebaq Elmi<br \/>\nPrincess Stark<br \/>\nLingli Zou<\/p>\n<p><strong>Horace Wells Senior Student Award (American Dental Society of Anesthesiology)<\/strong><br \/>\nJaelon Blandburg<\/p>\n<p><strong>International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award<\/strong><br \/>\nLuis Romero<\/p>\n<p><strong>International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award<\/strong><br \/>\nMaxwell Marks<\/p>\n<p><strong>International Congress of Oral Implantologists\/Dentsply Student Achievement Award<\/strong><br \/>\nLenka Serdar<\/p>\n<p><strong>Kohrman Award<\/strong><br \/>\nThomas Aquista<\/p>\n<p><strong>Northeastern Society of Periodontists Award<\/strong><br \/>\nSarah Herbsman<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olmstead Prize in Geriatrics<\/strong><br \/>\nHebaq Elmi<\/p>\n<p><strong>Phi Chi Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon 2026 Inductees<\/strong><br \/>\nSuzanne Allen<br \/>\nMitchell Andrea<br \/>\nErin Carroll<br \/>\nSamuel Majek<br \/>\nLenka Serdar<br \/>\nPrincess Stark<\/p>\n<p><strong>Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry<\/strong><br \/>\nJenna Whelan<\/p>\n<p><strong>South Park Inn Dental Clinic Award<\/strong><br \/>\nMakara Sorel<\/p>\n<p><strong>Special Care Dentistry Association\/Academy of Dentistry for Persons with Disabilities Award<\/strong><br \/>\nDesirae Lee<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Alumni Relations Award<\/strong><br \/>\nStephen Aledort<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Brian D. Stone Student Memorial Award<\/strong><br \/>\nCatherine Tang<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Pierre Fauchard Academy Award<\/strong><br \/>\nLuis Romero<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics<\/strong><br \/>\nKim Luu<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry<br \/>\n<\/strong>Thomas Acquista<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Quintessence Award for Research Achievement<\/strong><br \/>\nVlad Ilies<\/p>\n<p><strong>U.S. Public Health Service Dental Award of Excellence<\/strong><br \/>\nDesirae Lee<\/p>\n<p><strong>University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine Professional Development Award<\/strong><br \/>\nSherrill Brantley<br \/>\nTristan Duffey<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The School of Dental Medicine celebrated the accomplishments of 4th-year students ahead of Monday\u2019s commencement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":136,"featured_media":245534,"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-245523","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":"2026-05-15 20:05:49","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\/245523","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=245523"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245641,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245523\/revisions\/245641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/245534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=245523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=245523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=245523"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=245523"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=245523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}