Congratulations: NYDHA congratulates 2017 dental hygiene graduates. Welcome to the profession! Our representatives were delighted to present in person our President's Awards for student excellence in dental hygiene. Join us in applauding the honorees: Broome - Chloe Erway; Canton - Amanda Ashby; Erie - Chelsey Vacanti; Farmingdale - Kaitlyn Rostron; Hostos - Dilia Pimentel De Polenca; HVCC - Emily Black; Monroe - Persei Negron-Cruz; NYCCT - Azka Zafar; NYU - Suzanne Abrams; Orange - Lauren Lewis. See presentations here.

Great Reviews for 2016 Empire Conference Table Clinics

It was a Hudson Valley Community College sweep at the 2016 Empire Conference for student table clinic winners, shown here with Membership VP Michele Rase, at left. Judges selected

- “Oral Effects of Bulimia Nervosa,” presented by Amanda Sebast and Angela Dennis, for first place;

- “Oral Fingerprint,” by Johansen Sanchez, second place; and

- “Battle of the Brushes,” by Krystal Molitor and Gabrielle Pusatere, third place.

Among our attendees commented: “great topics,” “so well prepared,” “awesome students.” We concur!

NYDHA welcomed its first student delegate to

the House of Delegates, Shelby Zmijewski of

Erie Community College, and first and second

alternates Jennifer Halpin and Rikki Voerhinger

of Monroe Community College.

Congratulations to all dental hygiene graduates and welcome to the profession.

NYDHA representatives were honored to present our President’s awards to the graduating students nominated by their schools for their outstanding work: SUNY Broome, Alicia Torto; SUNY Canton, Jade China (far right), Erie Community College, Valeria Garlock (second to right with Past President Michele Rase); SUNY Farmingdale, Maria Leon Perez; Hostos Community College. Sherita Campbell; Hudson Valley Community College, Rebecca Johnson (third from right with Director-at-Large Karen Palleschi); Monroe Community College, Anthonisia Lawson; New York City College of Technology, Katherine Schiotis; New York University, Williams Diaz (immediate right with President Donna Hickey); and SUNY Orange, Amy Hays.

Congratulations - Our thanks to the students presenting the table clinics at the 2014 Empire Conference in Rochester.

Top-scoring student presenters (above, right) gather at the Current Issues program to the applause of attendees., joined by immediate past President Robin Grasso at left and President Michele Rase at right. The presentations were: First – “Deep Sleep: Oral Appliance and Sleep Apnea,” Jaclyn Baum and Krystina Rosamino of Hudson Valley Communication College (pictured above, left with ADHA District II Trustee Jaclyn Gleber); second – Electric Cigarettes: The Better Choice? Jennifer Hoech and Eleanor Van Gurp of HVCC; and third – Maria Behling, Mary Bunce and Valerie Cole of Monroe Community College.

Attendees at the 2013 Empire Conference had the opportunity to visit student table clinic presentations by teams from DH colleges in New York State. They came away saying, "excellent presentations," "very smart group," "very well prepared," "great to see such work in our future RDHs."

At right, Niurca Richardson, NYDHA's Vice President for Member Services (center) presents the table clinic honors to student teams: Third Place - Allegra Fiore and Tiffany Burris of New York City College of Technology for Stem Cells and Dental Health; first - Carli Marie Zimmerman and Colleen Trendell of Hudson Valley Community College for Rampant Caries; and second - Bethany Berzal and Katie Harrington of HVCC for Effects of Hookah.

We look forward to NYDHA's 2014 Empire Conference student table clinics will be held November 8 in Rochester.

Hostos students conducted oral cancer

screenings as part of cancer awareness

public education activities in October.

Here, faculty member Daughn Thomas

demonstrates the screening to students.

Marianne Belles of NYDHA's Continuing Education Committee and professor at Hudson Valley Community College, is the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award recognizes exceptional contributions by SUNY professionals. A member of HVCC's Academic Senate and a faculty member of its Center for Effective Teaching, she also helped design and teach a highly successful post-graduate certificate course in local anesthesia and nitrous oxide analgesia for RDHs. Among community service, she coordinate an annual girl scout visit to the Dental Hygiene Clinic at the College as part of Children's Dental Health Month activities. Here, she receives the honors from HVCC President Andrew Matonak.

NYDHA representatives have enjoyed presenting our Association President's Award for Excellence at the Student Level at school ceremonies across the state. Above from left, DHASNY District XII Director Doris Stockton congratulates SUNY Canton recipient Ashley Abeling; Erie Community College honoree Katie Kline is congratulated by District VIII Director Susan Burzynski; Sara Sworzen of Hudson Valley Community College is presented the award by Mary Ellen Yankosky, Director of Policy and Advocacy; Broome Community College honoree Alexis Bullock (middle) receives the award from Treasurer Tiffany King and District VI-Binghamton President Terry Duvall. President Robin Grasso provided the award to Mariya Kostova at NYCCT.

At right, President-Elect Michele Rase applauds Monroe Community College award recipient Elena Culakova.

At NYU, the President's Award was presented to Christine Dursunain; at SUNY Orange, Jeanine Altro; at SUNY Farmingdale, Briana Limoncelli; and at Hostos, Madelyn Rosario.

Monroe Community College students Elena Culakova, Kate Lia and Christina Steiner explain the "Effects of Sugar" to a young participant at the 2012 DHASNY Empire Conference. The presentation received first place in the table clinic program. Second place was awarded to Hudson Valley Community College students Kathleen Gail Flores and Sylva Tannous for "The Key to Dental Hygiene."

Congratulations to class of 2012 dental hygiene students. NYDHA was proud to present the NYDHA President’s Award at schools across the state to recognize a second-year dental hygiene student member of ADHA / NYDHA who has demonstrated excellence in leadership and student association participation. The honorees are selected through nominations by the schools.

This year’s award recipients are: Broome Community College – Devan Watkins; Erie Community College – Erik Daruszka; SUNY Farmingdale – Keri Hand; Hostos Community College - Julie Rodrigues; Hudson Valley Community College – Kayla Sierburg; Monroe Community College – Brittany M. Messina; New York City College of Technology – Toni-Ann Restivo; New York University – Omar E. Batista; and SUNY Orange – Cailin Brigman.