Class of 2025 celebrated at Dental Hygiene Awards
Published: May 13, 2025 by Dylan Allen
Students from the Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 were recognized at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry’s annual DH Awards. The ceremony was held May 12 in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center.
In total, 15 awards were bestowed upon members of the soon-to-be graduating class.
Order of ceremony:
- Academic Achievement Award: Ngan “Kyle” Dinh
- American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award: Victoria Boreman
- Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Star Award: Ashley Bonilla
- Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Association Outstanding Professional Leadership Award: Victoria Boreman
- Mentor of the Year Award: Ivan Medellin
- Sigma Phi Alpha: Ngan “Kyle” Dinh, Julie T. Nguyen
- Student Teaching Award: Ivan Medellin
- UTSD Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association Award: Ivan Medellin
- UTSD Simulation Award: Jolyssa B. Mallare
- Procter & Gamble Preventive Dentistry Award: Ashley Y. Bonilla
- UTSD Student Award in Interprofessional Education: Julie T. Nguyen
- Cleverick Johnson Award: Cathy Kadharmestan
- Cloud Dentistry Dental Hygiene Devotion Award: Ashley Bonilla
- PACE Excellence in Interviewing Award: Mariana Santos-Ochoa
The program concluded with the presentation of the Lorna J. Bruning Award for Outstanding Teaching. The 2025 recipient was Courtney Routh, RDH, BSDH.
Chosen by second-year dental hygiene students, the Bruning Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional knowledge and competence towards effective learning.