The freshman class at the University of Nebraska Medical Centers College
of Dentistry has a habit of attracting top students. For the third-straight
year and fifth of the past six, the colleges freshman class has ranked
first among the 55 U.S. dental schools for incoming grade-point average.
The colleges admissions committee places strong emphasis on grade-point
average, said Curtis Kuster, D.D.S., director of admissions.
We believe a grade-point average reflects three or four years of hard
work during students pre-dental studies, Dr. Kuster said. Students who
have excelled during their undergraduate work have a tendency to excel
in their studies at the College of Dentistry.
The freshman class, which recently completed its first year of studies,
had a 3.67 grade-point average, ahead of Colorado and Harvard, which finished
second and third respectively.
I like that company, said Stephen Leeper, D.D.S., dean. Better yet
is the colleges tradition of being first among its peers.
The colleges freshman classes have ranked first for incoming
GPA in 1993, 1994 (tied with Harvard), 1996, 1997 and 1998. No class rankings
were reported in 1995.
The UNMC College of Dentistry not only serves Nebraskans, who made up
75 percent of the freshman class this past year, but also states that have
no dental schools, including Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming.
The college offers the following programs: doctor of dental surgery
(D.D.S.), certificate in dental hygiene and a bachelors degree in dental
hygiene; five post-graduate specialty programs (endodontics, orthodontics,
periodontics, pediatric dentistry and prosthodontics); and a general practice
residency program.
The college, which celebrates its centennial year in September, was
founded on Sept. 17, 1899 as the Lincoln Dental College. It was the first
dental school in Nebraska. In 1918, the dental college officially became
part of the University of Nebraska. In 1979, the College of Dentistry became
part of UNMC. It is located on UNLs east campus at 40th and Holdrege streets
in Lincoln.
The members of the freshman class are listed below with their hometowns:
BENNINGTON Nik E. Sather
CREIGHTON Ryan M. Shaffer
FALLS CITY Laura E. James
GERING Mark A. Schlothauer
GRAND ISLAND Jay C. McConnell
HASTINGS Jeremy S. Loch and Ann M. Schultes
JUNIATA Sean M. Daly
KEARNEY Ryan A. Foote
LEXINGTON Jason J. Carpenter and David J. Maloley
LINCOLN Colin S. Gibson and John E. Rutledge
NORFOLK Corey S. Karmazin
OMAHA Gregory M. Beals, Timothy R. Garofolo, Zachary A. Graham, Jason
J. Knag, Mark A. Nielsen, Carolyn L. Taggart, Michael R. Thylin and Stephanie
A. Vondrak
PHILLIPS Timothy J. Jones
SHELBY Melanie M. Kroft
STERLING Steven E. Weber
WOOD RIVER Lamont L. Gillham
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. Kathryn A. Billerbeck
DODGE CITY, KAN. Andrew N. Young
GRAINFIELD, KAN. Jeffrey L. Krannawitter
HAYS, KAN. Summer M. Smith
SALINA, KAN. Nathan L. Ahlers
TONGANOXIE, KAN. Wylie L. Bell
WICHITA, KAN. Michael F. Iseman
ROCHESTER, MINN. Mark E. Keller
FARGO, N.D. Craig P. Vacek
ABERDEEN, S.D. Steven J. Jacobs and David R. Mack
PIERRE, S.D. – Jon K. Schaack
SISSETON, S.D. Amber L. Marohl
WATERTOWN, S.D. Troy L. Keyes
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Corey K. Karimjee
RICHLAND, WASH. Trevor D. Larson
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than
$34 million in research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists
annually. In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for
training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other
institution.