Five University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry students
were recently selected as members of the Alpha Alpha Chapter, the colleges
chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a national dental honorary society that
consists of 58 chapters in the United States.
Omicron Kappa Upsilon was founded in 1914 at Northwestern University
Dental School in Evanston, Ill., to encourage and develop a spirit of achievement
among students in dentistry and to recognize students who distinguish themselves
in scholarly activities.
Each year, 12 percent of the UNMC College of Dentistry dentistry students
with the top 20 percent grade point averages are selected as members.
The students and their hometowns are listed below.
COLUMBUS Cade Hunzeker and Benjamin Walline
SPEARFISH, S.D. Sami Whitlock
SALT LAKE CITY, UT Corey Anderson
WINNIPEG, CANADA Kristina Barta
The UNMC College of Dentistry, which celebrated its 100th anniversary
last year, serves Nebraskans and states that have no dental schools, including
Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. For five of the last six
years, the colleges freshman class has ranked first among the 55 U.S.
dental schools for incoming grade-point average. The college offers programs
in doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.), bachelors degree in dental hygiene,
certificate in dental hygiene, a general practice residency program and
post-graduate specialty programs in endodontics, orthodontics, periodontics,
pediatric dentistry and prosthodontics.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education 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.