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On Friday, May 14, 2021, MWCC welcomed fourteen students to the dental hygiene profession with a socially distant pinning ceremony outside the main entrance of the Gardner campus.
“This is not totally normal, but this is the most normal event that I have been to in about fifteen months. Thank you for this moment,” opened MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I am so proud of the efforts these students have made over the past two years. It takes an awful lot to choose to pursue a degree in one of the caring fields, to know that you are going to be dedicating your professional careers to helping others. I am eternally grateful that you have chosen this path, and that you chose to do it with Mount Wachusett Community College.”
Cindy Cadoret, Director of Dental Education Programs, and the dental faculty members pinned the fourteen students, all of whom are receiving their Dental Hygiene Associate Degrees on Wednesday, May 19. The students pinned and the annual department awardees are:
Ashley Beauchemin, Ashby
Samantha Bottis, Worcester
Patricia Bunis, Whitinsville
Jessica Burgos, Fitchburg, Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award
Jennifer Burkmier, Lowell
Brianna Coggins, Northbridge
Ivonne Jimenez, Clinton
Ashley Leone, Auburn, Dental Hygiene Most Improved Award
Emily Matusiak, Lowell
Beatriz Padilla-Lazarin, Leominster
Katherine Piecewicz, Ayer
Courtney Rogers, Uxbridge, Dental Hygiene Community Service Award
Elzbieta Solimeno, Bolton, Dental Hygiene Curriculum and Alumni Scholarship Award
Justin Ward, Charlemont