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Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) held a pinning ceremony for the ten members of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2024 on May 14, 2024. The pinning ceremony represents the passage from student to registered dental hygienist.
“The path you chose for your higher education and career was not an easy one. You have chosen to go into a caring field, you chose a path that was difficult, and for that you are to be commended,” MWCC President James Vander Hooven told graduates. “I am so proud of you tonight, I am so proud of who you have become and I wish you the best in your next chapter.”
Guest speaker was Maria Mesquita, DMD, a Brazilian native and an alumna of the MWCC program. Mesquita received her dental surgeon degree in Brazil in 1996 and became an endodontist. She had a flourishing practice for 8 years before moving to the US. Her dental qualifications held little weight in her new home, and she started from the beginning with an associate degree from MWCC and in 2017 earned her DMD from Tufts School of Dental Medicine.
“Never be discouraged by anything or anyone. In the coming years you will encounter a myriad of opportunities and challenges, each presenting a chance for growth and development, from providing preventive care to patients of all ages, to collaborating with other health care professionals,” Mesquita told graduates. “Your role is both diverse and dynamic, and beyond the technical skills and clinical expertise, I urge you to remember the importance of empathy, compassion and human connection. As dental hygienists, you have the unique privilege of not only caring for your patients, but also building meaningful relationships based on trust, respect and understanding. Embrace the future ahead with open hearts and tireless optimism knowing that the best is yet to come.”
Welcoming graduates to the Dental Hygiene profession were Dental Education Program Director Cynthia Cadoret, and faculty members Heather Almeida, Virginia Heroux, Kelly Jancaitis, Kelley Martell, Veronique Major, Ellen McCracken, Annie Peterson, Kristina Sanders, Katherine Soal, and Alison Waite. Clinical supervising dentists were Dr. Shirley Austin, Dr. Andreza Castro, Dr. Margarita Hernandez, Dr. Gianna Frederike Schuhknecht, and Dr. Susanna O. Arowosegbe.
View the recording of the Dental Pinning Ceremony.
The Dental Hygiene Class of 2024 graduates are:
Leyla Abdela, Hyde Park
Abby Bryant, South Barre
Megan Campbell, Worcester
Jenna Guzman, Leominster, Leominster
Marian Khalil, Holden
Nicole Lehtomaki, Athol
Stella Pion, Leominster
Edward Garcia Abreu, Pelham, NH
Rebecca Rule-Sellers, Richmond, NH
Alyssa Abbott-Kerylow, Vernon, VT