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 23 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, said John Reinhardt, D.D.S.,

dean of the UNMC College of Dentistry. A white coat frequently shows a

certain professional pride; designating men and women who have earned the

right to wear it and are proud of the profession they represent.

The class make-up consists of 30 dental students from Nebraska, and

15 from states representing Kansas, South Dakota, Nevada, Utah, North Dakota,

Minnesota, Michigan and Wyoming. Of the 24 dental hygiene students, 19

are from Nebraska and four others represent Wyoming and Iowa.

Below are hometowns and student names.

Dental students

Beatrice — Elizabeth A. Chaloupek, Daniel D Gleason, Justin J. Villafane

and Nicholas C. Woodward

Central City — Kristen R. Ryan

Cozad — Thomas J. Nelsen

Elkhorn —  Clint K. Lee

Fremont — Bethany J. Shadbolt

Grand Island — Joshua P. King

Kearney — Katherine A. Meyer

LaVista — Chad J. McClellen

Lexington — Mindy L. Teetor

Lincoln — Matthew S. Ames, Ryan T. Baller, William A. Dabbert, Nathan

B. Helm, Tammy S. Huffman, Kathryn Y. Panagiotis, Hao V. Pham, and David

L. Porter

Lodgepole — Leasa M. Hlavinka

Milford — Aaron L. McCormick

Northfield — Ryan A. Long

North Platte — Nathan M. McConnell and James E. Thalken

Papillion — Corinne E. Gershon

Riverdale — Stacy M. Schmitz

Superior — Elisa K. Wiest

Utica — Brent E. Murphy

West Point — Brandi K. Roeber

Cheney, Kan. — Kate E. Voth

Great Bend, Kan. — Jamie L. Thurman

Hill City, Kan. — Geoffrey C. Riley

Wichita, Kan. — Paul W. Anders

St. Joseph, Mich. — Ryan E. Thomas

Duluth, Minn. — Amy J. Haworth

Finley, N.D. — Caron L. Berg

Belle Fourche, S.D. — Matt E. Nehl

Blunt, S.D. — Dane T. Steffen

Pierre, S.D. — Meaghan A. Anderson

Spearfish, S.D. — Monique M. Dana

Carson City, Nev. — Eric A. Avitia

Logan, Utah — Alfred M. Burns

Ogden, Utah — Christopher B. Pobanz

Wheatland, Wyo. — Carl A. Trout

Dental hygiene students

Alliance — Erin M. Zilmer

Arcadia — Kelsey (Dorsey) Ash

Clarkson — Melinda Doernemann

Gering — Sara M. Lien

Hildreth — Jessica D. Dallmann

Lincoln — Lindsay N. Berthelsen, Marie Y. Goss, Misti N. Maisey, Laura

C. Meyerle, Heidi J. Mihovk, Andrea P. Ohlrich, and Erin C. Sallee

Ralston — Andrea J. Hert

Omaha — Marie L. Hruska

Sidney — Sheri M. Printz

Stratton — Kari A. Newcomb and Kayla M Newcomb

Wayne — Katie L. Walton

Wisner — Angela Heckman

Yutan — Nichole Salkeld

Atlantic, Iowa — Rachel K. Weihs

Council Bluffs, Iowa — Alison M Nicholas

Evanston, Wyo. — Debra L Barker

Newcastle, Wyo. Heather L Howell

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