Dental Hygiene Class of 2023 celebrated at DH Awards

Students from the Dental Hygiene Class of 2023 were recognized at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry’s annual DH Awards. The ceremony was held May 12 at The Houston Room.

In total, 16 awards were bestowed upon members of the graduating class. A PDF of the program is available online.

Awards are as follows:

• Academic Achievement Award: Nour Nimer
• American Association of Public Health Dentistry: Stefany Vazquez Castillo
• Colgate Oral Pharmaceutical’s Star Award: Stefany Vazquez Castillo
• E-Portfolio Excellence Award: Stephanie Diaz
• Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Society Outstanding Professional Leadership Award: Valeria Zamarripa
• The Hu-Friedy Clinical Achievement & Golden Scaler Award: Lauren Frazee
• Mentor of the Year Award: Valeria Zamarripa
• Procter & Gamble Preventive Dentistry Award: Laura Huynh
• Sigma Phi Alpha: Rachel Dowd, Nour Nimer, Laura Huynh
• Student Teaching Award: Denisse Meza
• UTSD Dental Hygienists’ Alumni Association Award: Valeria Zamarripa
• UTSD Evidence-Based Dentistry Award: Casandra Castillo
• UTSD Simulation Award: Samantha Paredes
• UTSD Student Awards in Interprofessional Education: Valeria Zamarripa
• Annual CD Johnson Award: Cassandra Castillo
• Cloud Dentistry’s Dental Hygiene Devotion Scholarship Award: Anum Khan

Additionally, Associate Professor Tulsi Patel, RDH, MHA was named the 2023 recipient of the Lorna J. Bruning Award for Outstanding Teaching. Chosen by second-year dental hygiene students, the Bruning Award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional knowledge and competence towards effective learning.