Dental hygiene student chapter earns national recognition for excellence
Published: July 30, 2025 by Kyle Rogers
The Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry placed second in the 2025 ADHA Outstanding Student Chapter Awards, a national honor recognizing exceptional student-led efforts in leadership, service, and professional involvement across an academic year.
The annual award celebrates student chapters demonstrating excellence in five key areas: membership, ADHA involvement, service to the college or university, community involvement, and chapter management.
At the School of Dentistry, all 60 students between the dental hygiene classes of 2025 and 2026 were ADHA members.
Julie Nguyen, BSDH ’25, served as SCADHA president for the 2024-25 academic year, working closely with the student class leadership and her peers. Faculty advisors were Hannah Medrano, MEd, RDH, and Courtney Routh, RDH, MSDH, of the Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene.
The ADHA recognized the School of Dentistry’s SCADHA chapter for excelling at providing service to the university and community and for demonstrating a “fantastic commitment” to dental hygiene advocacy on all levels.
“This chapter dedicated time to monthly community service events. These students learned firsthand how their voices can impact dental hygiene and improve oral health for all. So proud of you,” the ADHA shared.
The SCADHA chapter was highly active throughout the academic year, with students engaged in professional development, mentorship, and volunteer initiatives. Members attended monthly meetings of the Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Association and participated in community health fairs and other service events across the Houston area.
In addition to service work, the chapter raised more than $3,000 through student-led fundraising to help offset graduation, exam, and conference expenses. At the Texas Dental Hygienists’ Association Annual Conference, students earned first-place honors in the Lip Sync Battle and School Video Competition and received multiple individual scholarships and awards.
Faculty advisors and senior students also supported a peer mentoring program that pairs first- and second-year students, helping ease the transition into dental hygiene school while fostering leadership, communication skills, and academic confidence. Although the program was not implemented during the 2024–25 academic year, student leaders worked with faculty to revise and enhance the initiative for future cohorts.
The chapter’s award nomination was submitted by Montserrath Reyes, newly-elected SCADHA president for the 2025-26 academic year, and Mia Jackson, class president of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2026.
The award results were announced June 6. The top three chapters each receive a commemorative plaque and a cash award in recognition of their impact. The School of Dentistry’s plaque arrived July 29.