WVU dentistry students receive scholarship support

More than 70 West Virginia University School of Dentistry students earned scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year. To honor their achievements, a recognition ceremony was at held at the Health Sciences Center on Sept. 20.

Privately funded merit-, talent- and need-based scholarships are crucial to providing students with the financial resources necessary to attend WVU and be successful. It is through the generosity of dedicated donors that dental and dental hygiene students are able to excel in the classroom without the stress of a financial burden.

This year’s scholarship recipients are as follows:

Dental Hygiene:

• Lisa A. Smith Memorial Award: Gillian Pierrard
• Mary F. Sanders Memorial Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Abigail Ash
• Melissa Carlson Armstrong Memorial Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Rebecca Good
• Ann Vargo Rogers Scholarship: Kendra Wolford
• Linda S. Edwards, RDH, BS, MA, Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Kendra Wolford
• Margaret J. Epperly Scholarship for Dental Hygiene: Emily Stricklin
• McMechen-Hock Family Scholarship for Dental Hygiene: Josey Moore
• Judith Grubb Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Josey Moore
• LEDRS Scholarship: Sidney Fix and Josey Moore
• Sigma Phi Alpha Sophomore Award: Noelle Wonsettler
• WVU School of Dentistry Alumni Association Instrument Award: Yazna Riddick

Doctor of Dental Surgery:

• Dr. Camillo Alberico Scholarship: Madison Anderson, Autumn Gossard and David Kines
• Norman H. and Nathan P. Baker Dental Scholarship: Kent Digwe, Jaliyah Hubbard and Aaliyah Williams
• Thelma M. Boyers Dentistry Scholarship: Madelyn Lalama, Grace McCusker and Jason Plants
• Champe O. Butler Sr. Dental Scholarship: Matthew Vicini
• Dr. James & Karen Caveney Scholarship in honor of William Reed Butler: Trace Bennett, Carson Cochran, Harry Le and Chance Shears
• Michael Christensen, Thomas P. Patrick and William Shelton DDS Class of 1976 Scholarship: Keerthana Arjuna
• Dr. Clarence C. and Maxine D. Cottrill Scholarship: Sydni Harris-Evans
• Dr. David G. Edwards Dental Scholarship: Ashley Ruza
• Dr. Patrick J. Farace Memorial Scholarship: Collin Kerr
• Dr. S. Phillip Farley Class of 1970 Memorial Scholarship: Mira Hamady, Hannah McGrew, Matthew Ogershok and Katelyn Pinti
• Frieman/Wilner Dentistry Scholarship: Peyton Faulkner
• Dr. Mohssen and Mrs. Karen Ghalichebaf Cleft Lip/Palate Scholarship: Avery Smith
• Ghareeb Dental Group Scholarship: Chance Shears
• Dr. Paul Ronald Graziani Memorial Scholarship: Sarah Momen
• John W. Hatcher Memorial Scholarship: Christopher VonScio
• Dr. Richard L. and Dr. Edward E. Howard Dentistry Scholarship: Anna Hayton
• Sabe Isaac and Rose Mary Howard Memorial Scholarship: Jason Plants
• Simon P. Hullihen Memorial Award: Jonathan Gore
• Kanawha Valley Dental Society Scholarship: Chance Brown
• Dr. Carl Lemley and Mary Eugenia Kennedy Family Scholarship: Jaclyn Montag
• LEDRS Scholarship: Tyler Linkous and Hannah Stapleton
• Dr. Robert and Lori Martino Scholarship: Anna Hayton
• Dr. Matthew Mathias Scholarship: Avery Smith
• Dr. Jeffrey Scott McCoy Memorial Dental Scholarship: Daniel Sturgeon
• Drs. Moe and Jennifer Momen Compassionate Care Dental Scholarship: Alex Pampalone and Rachel Rutledge
• Thomas P. Moore Dental Scholarship: Joshua Petit
• Othman Family Scholarship: Mustafa Zaeean
• Panagakos Family Dentistry Scholarship: Sophia Ellia and Aashish Pokhrel
• Joe (DDS ’76) and Cathy Rice Scholarship: Caitlin Murphy and Anthony Nguyen
• Ralph J. “Buck” Rutledge Dentistry Scholarship: Trace Bennett
• Dr. David E. Sheinkopf Scholarship: Michael Tomoroksa
• Dr. Shellenberger Dentistry Scholarship: Savannah Dervis and Christopher Neil
• Dr. Elliot R. Shulman Dental Scholarship: Madison Jones
• Skaff Family Scholarship: Stephanie Marnic
• Imbrogno Spears Scholarship: Caroline Cartwright
• Boyd A. Smoot Memorial Scholarship: Kent Digwe
• Dr. Frank Stevens Student Scholarship: Julia Gianni, Hannah Stapleton and Joshua Wagoner
• John L. and Hazel L. Sutton Scholarship: Anderson Hill, Evan McCray, Parker Miller and Nicole Sacco
• Dr. David C. Swann Class of 1980 Scholarship: Nicholas Walker
• Dr. W. Christopher and Gina Ann Taylor Scholarship: Hawraa Al Qassab
• Margaret Howard Teeter WVU Dental Scholarship: Ariel Holliday
• Dr. Nancy Burton Waitkus Dental Scholarship: Madison Jones
• Geraldine Core Willis Scholarship: Adrian Coalson
• West Virginia Dental Tuition Waiver: Carson Cochran, Jacob Estep, Jonathan Gore, Cameron Kimble and Sarah Zanabli
• Dennis “PJ” Zickefoose Memorial Scholarship: Chance Shears and Christopher VonScio

Advanced Dental Education Programs:

• Dr. John H. Dempsey Orthodontic Scholarship: Dr. Allison Fritz
• James A. Griffin Scholarship: Dr. Logan Williams

This is the first year the LEDRS Scholarship has been awarded.

WVU School of Dentistry alumni and friends considering a gift to help future students with their educational investment can provide support through several giving opportunities. The WVU Foundation assists donors interested in annual giving, planned giving, gifts in kind, corporate giving, stocks and securities, memorial donations and matching gifts. Gifts can be made online at give.wvu.edu/dentistry.

For more information, contact Director of Development Karen Coombs.