UNMC College of Dentistry holds White Coat Ceremony for new students; symbolizes entry into profession

The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, located

in Lincoln, held a White Coat Ceremony recently to welcome 45 new dental

students and 20 dental hygiene students into the dental profession. The

ceremony is a rite of passage, as well as a call to achieve the high standards

set forth in the profession.

We are putting our trust in you that you will become talented and motivated

health care providers, said John Reinhardt, D.D.S., dean of the UNMC College

of Dentistry, to dental and dental hygiene students during the ceremony.

The white coat should indicate a person with the knowledge and skills

to maintain or restore good health, a person with compassion and empathy,

a person who will treat patients with dignity, respect and confidentiality

that our profession demands.

By accepting your white coat today, you are acknowledging your choice

to become the dentist or dental hygienist whom patients can trust, Dr.

Reinhardt told the students.

Of the 45 freshman dental students, 28 are from Nebraska, four are from

North Dakota and one is from Wyoming, two states that contract with Nebraska

for dental education. Other states represented in the class are Colorado,

South Dakota, Kansas, Idaho, Utah and Missouri. All but one of the dental

hygiene students is from Nebraska.

Last year, 565 applications were received for this falls freshman dental

class. Of that number, 120 were invited to the college for interviews,

45 of which were accepted into the program.

Below are hometowns and student names.

DENTAL STUDENTS

Beaver City — Chris Wenburg

Cozad — Timothy Davis

Creighton — John Wewel

David City — John Rutledge

Elm Creek — Hubble Reichert

Fairbury — Michelle Bargen

Fremont — Erin Capps

Gordon — Christine Riggleman

Grand Island — Kristen Luther

Hastings — Todd Hohlen and Elizabeth Vacek

Humphrey — Stephanie Stanton

Lincoln — Mark Garner, John Kobza, Joanne McConkey, Paul Rallis, Kelly

Soder-Blackman, Heather Turk and Shelby Wibbels

Norfolk — Christina Martini

North Platte — Jonathan Simpson

Omaha — Travis Haynes, Meghann Longo, Brian Ozenbaugh, Brett Taylor,

Kavitha Yathish

Scottsbluff — Nathan Luehrs, Sarah Vath,

Littleton, Colo. — Mollie McNamara

Idaho Falls, Idaho — David Cleverly

Meridian, Idaho — Mark McDonald

Newton, Kan. — Andrew Friesen

Manhattan, Kan. — Emilie Smith

Branson, Mo. — Amy Buckley

Bismarck, N.D. — Matthew Friedt and Bryce Goebel

Grand Forks, N.D. — Rusty Lewis

Fargo, N.D. — Timothy Vacek

Aurora, S.D. — Anne Johnson

Huron, S.D. — Rick Fuchs

Pierre, S.D. — Melissa Stevens

Rapid City, S.D. — Bart Samuelson

Spearfish, S.D. — Lennard Hopper

North Ogden, Utah — James Bradley

Cheyenne, Wyo. — Corte McGuffey

DENTAL HYGIENE STUDENTS

Ayr  — Sarah Sexton

Bellevue — Jessica Godwin and Jamie Schwaninger

Holdrege — Sarah DaMoude

Hartington — Michelle Gutzman

Johnson — Kimberly Swanson

LaVista — Bethany Walker

Lincoln — Mayraish Amaro-Otero, Mariah Carroll and Cheryl Olson

Norfolk — Melissa Muessel

Omaha — Lisa Brown, Jenifer Harding, Julie Mikovec, and Jill Carr

Pierce — Kelly Silhacek

Schuyler — Mary Brooks

Tilden — Kristin Taake

Wahoo — Amy Anderson

Sparks, Nevada — Virginia Van Horn