The Commencement Ceremony, and the festivities surrounding it, annually provide us with the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates in pursuit of their degrees. Although we have had to cancel our in-person ceremonies this year, I invite you to join me in congratulating the Dental Class of 2020 for a job well done.
I am so proud of each member of the Class as they have navigated unprecedented times, supported by their families and friends, and with our faculty and staff at their sides. All the persevered to reach the goals they set years ago. They have truly reached a milestone in their professional careers and personal lives.
Our tradition is to present some of the members of the dental class with individual awards established by speciality groups and community partners. Please see the list of those awards and their recipients below. Additionally, a select group of individuals is inducted into the honor society for dentistry, Omicron Kappa Upsilon each year. These graduates are new members of the Colorado Pi Rho OKU Chapter. Congratulations to the graduates receiving these awards and special recognitions.
Whether you leave CU SDM to enter dental practice, pursue an advanced dental education program, and service in the U.S. Military, you will forever be a CU Dental Alumni. Thank you for sharing your lives with us.
Best wishes to all,
Denise Kassebaum, DDS, M.S.
Dean
Class of 2020 Graduation Awards:
| Academy of Dental Materials Award - Kristin Simboski |
| Academy of General Dentistry Award - Mark Sidransky |
| Academy of Operative Dentistry Award - Ayathi Olson |
| Academy of Osseointegration Award for Implant Dentistry - Clark Cranfill |
| Advanced Clinical Training and Services Program Award - Mark Sidransky |
| American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award - Katie Boswell |
| American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award - Harry Chesser |
| American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Dental Student Award - Crispin Herrick |
| American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Award - Derrick Bisnett |
| American Academy of Oral Medicine Award - Dana Schwartz |
| American Academy of Orofacial Pain Outstanding Senior Award - Colleen Leong |
| American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Award - Kate Sumerfield |
| American Academy of Periodontology Award - Colleen Leong |
| American Association of Endodontists Award - Jordan Henke |
| American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Award - Kristin Simboski |
| American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Student Award - Kasey Jones |
| American Association of Orthodontists Senior Dental Student Award - Matthew Melcher |
| American Association of Public Health Dentistry Award - Ayathi Olson |
| American College of Dentists Award - Colleen Leong |
| American College of Prosthodontists Award - Austin Tyler |
| American Dental Society of Anesthesiology, Horace Wells Award - Kara Arceneaux |
| American Equilibration Society Award - Kyra Garrison |
| American Student Dental Association Award - Sam Lynass |
| Brasseler USA Scholars Award - Kyra Arceneaux and Kate Sumerfield |
| Brian D. Stone Memorial Award - Ayathi Olson |
| Colorado Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Award - Kate Sumerfield |
| Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Award - Colleen Leong and Matthew Michelotti |
| Colorado Prosthodontics Society Award - Jordan Henke |
| Dental Foundation of Colorado, Dr. Kenneth Grove Memorial Award - Kasey Jones |
| Dr. Barry Beauvais Special Care Dentistry Award - Nate Rivera |
| Dr. Miles Markley Delta Sigma Delta Award - Karl Hellwig and Abby Szlachta |
| Dr. Solomon Averbach Humanitarian Award - Dilan Starkel |
| Dr. Thomas J. Bomberg Memorial Award - Noreen Mian |
| Global Health Service Award - Kristen Robbins |
| Hanau Award for Excellence in Prosthodontics - Nate Rivera |
| International College of Dentists, Student Humanitarian Award - Lynn Doan |
| International College of Dentists, Student Leadership Award - Austin Tyler |
| International Congress of Oral Implantologists', Sullivan Schein Dental Predoctoral Achievement Award - Clark Cranfill |
| Omicron Kappa Upsilon Membership - Kara Arceneaux, Evan Entze, Kyra Garrison, Jordan Henke, Crispin Herrick, Sam Lynass, Matthew Melcher, Matthew Michelotti and Jennifer Terrio |
| Pierre Fauchard Academy Award - Jennifer Terrio |
| Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Restorative Dentistry - Steven Tobler |
| Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics - Kasey Jones |
| Quintessence Award for Research Achievement - Minh Trinh |
| Student Life Award for Excellence - Kasey Jones |
| Western Society of Periodontology Award - Ayathi Olson |
April 16, 2024