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Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) held a pinning ceremony for the ten members of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 on May 13, 2025. The pinning ceremony represents the passage from student to registered dental hygienist.
“It is with great pride and heartfelt enthusiasm that I stand before you today to represent these incredible women who have worked tirelessly over the past two years not only to achieve academic success, but also to enter a noble and selfless profession,” MWCC Dental Education Program Chair Kelley Martell said to open the ceremony. “Today we celebrate the perseverance, growth, and the compassion they bring to the dental health profession.”
“You have chosen a profession that combines science, skill and purpose. What you have accomplished is no small feat; you have endured a rigorous and intensive program that demanded precision, perseverance and unwavering commitment to excellence,” noted Kim Shea, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. “Dental hygienists are more than just providers of care, you are educators, advocates, and vital members of the healthcare team. You play a critical role in improving both individual and community health outcomes. Go forward in confidence, compassion and pride in the profession you have chosen.”
MWCC President James Vander Hooven addressed the family and friends of the graduates, thanking them for the support they provided throughout the program before turning to the students. “This is an academically and personally challenging program. You have chosen a field that is filled with compassion, caring and serving others, and for that, you have the gratitude of myself and the communities you will serve.”
Guest speaker Islam Eldib, DMD, Director of the Community Health Connections Dental Program, also addressed students. “Dentistry is at its best when we work together as a team. Today is more than a ceremony, it’s a rite of passage. You’ve spent countless hours learning how to care for people, not just their teeth. I see not just graduates, but future leaders of oral health. As a dentist I want to thank you all not just for choosing this path, but for elevating our profession. This profession is built on teamwork, trust and heart, and dental hygienists bring so much heart into everything they do. Congratulations.”
Welcoming graduates to the Dental Hygiene profession were faculty members Heather Almeida, BA, RDH, CDA; Kelly Jancaitis, MEd, RDH, CDA; Brenda Highlands, RDH, MHS; Veronique Major, MHA, RDH; Annie Peterson, BSDH, RDH; Kristina Sanders, RDH, BSDH, MSDH; Katherine Soal, MSDH, RDH, CDA; Alison Waite, BS, RDH; and administrative assistant Zulma M. Torres.
All ten members of the Class of 2025 have successfully passed their clinical board exam. They are:
Amanda L. Abbott, Surry, NH
Aurelia R. Aybar, Lawrence, MA
Christa Cucchi, Athol, MA
Rachel H. Kendall, Townsend, MA
Mackenzie R. Martel, Erving, MA
Alexandria B. Nguyen, Arlington, MA
Devyn M. Pedersen, Lunenburg, MA
Enida Sulaj, Worcester, MA
Jenniffer Vieira de Oliveira, Clinton, MA
Sophia Wenning, Leominster, MA