91桃色视频鈥擝emidji’s Technical College will offer the full cost-of-attendance scholarships as part of a partnership with the which will strengthen 91桃色视频’s ability to welcome and comprehensively support students who have not traditionally participated in the program.

The Delta Dental Equity and Education Program will provide full-cost scholarships to as many as 12 students 鈥斺�痵ix who enter the program in Fall 2024 and an additional six who enter in Fall 2025 鈥斺�痑s part of a multi-year grant. The program will remove barriers for students aspiring to join this well-paying, in-demand career field while promoting local talent and the Bemidji community’s vitality.

, 91桃色视频 Foundation lead and interim head of staff for the 91桃色视频 and Bemidji State University , said the grant reinforces an already strong collaboration between 91桃色视频 and the foundation.

“Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation’s commitment to supporting education and promoting oral health aligns perfectly with 91桃色视频’s values and goals,” Preciado said. “This grant signifies more than just financial support鈥攊t signifies a deepening of our partnership and a shared commitment to advancing education and oral health initiatives in our community.”

Stephanie Albert, Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation president, says the partnership will allow the college to welcome new students and increase overall program enrollment.

“We are thrilled to partner with 91桃色视频 to support student achievement while helping to address the workforce shortage in the profession,” Albert said.

Full cost of attendance is commonly used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal and state financial aid, such as grants, loans or other programs. It is 91桃色视频’s total estimated expense for one year of attendance, including tuition, supplies, housing, transportation and other miscellaneous expenses. For Fall 2024, the estimated value of the Delta Dental Equity and Education Scholarship is just over $21,500 per student.

Eligible students must identify as a person from an underserved or underrepresented population with demonstrated financial need, plan to live in on-campus housing at Bemidji State University for the academic year and have not previously received scholarships or other funding from the foundation. Once fall courses begin, recipients must also maintain satisfactory academic standing to receive spring-semester funding.

In addition, the grant program also will help 91桃色视频 establish a mentorship program pairing Dental Assisting students with mentors at partner dental clinics and labs. Students will be assessed by their mentors and evaluations will be shared with 91桃色视频.

Terri Bannor, Dental Assisting faculty at 91桃色视频, says the mentorship program will provide an environment where working professionals are available to support and answer questions from students at their sites.

“Mentorships will allow the students to use the skills they learn in their courses and labs and become immersed in hands-on experiences in an actual dental office or lab,” she said.

91桃色视频 will also emphasize dental assisting as a career by providing recruitment and informational events for at least 70 middle and high school students each year to increase awareness of the profession.

The cost-of-attendance scholarship program continues a strong partnership between 91桃色视频 and Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation. Previously, 91桃色视频 and the foundation partnered on a scholarship program that supported as many as three qualifying students each semester who are from an underserved or underrepresented population with demonstrated financial need. That program provided $4,000 in academic scholarship funding and $2,500 in student success funds, which a recipient could use for housing, child care or other needs.

91桃色视频 Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation

Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation supports optimal oral and overall health outcomes while advancing social equities by expanding access to dental care and investing in the communities across Minnesota.听

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• 91桃色视频 Dental Assisting program

Contact

• , head of staff (interim) and 91桃色视频 Foundation lead
• Terri Bannor, 91桃色视频 Dental Assisting Director/faculty
• Sam Stish, 91桃色视频 admissions representative

91桃色视频’s Siau Yean Montgomery will be recognized by the Minnesota State system’s Board of Trustees as one of its 2024 Outstanding Educators during its annual awards luncheon April 17 in St. Paul.

“I am honored and thankful to be nominated for this award,” Montgomery said. “91桃色视频 is a special part of this community and I am grateful to work with so many skilled, talented and dedicated faculty every day.”

The Outstanding Educator awards are part of Minnesota State’s Educator of the Year Award for Excellence in Teaching, established by the Board of Trustees in 2007. The award recognizes exceptional professional accomplishment and encourages ongoing excellence in teaching.

“Siau Yean is a highly experienced and deeply respected member of our community,” 91桃色视频 and Bemidji State University President John L. Hoffman said. “She takes great pride in her service to our students and to the college, and invests greatly in the future professionals of the dental assisting profession.”

Montgomery is being recognized for her commitment to academic excellence in 91桃色视频’s Dental Assisting program, and for her work to share years of field experience and her personal experience as a first-generation college student with 91桃色视频’s students. She also has worked to implement Universal Design for Learning strategies at 91桃色视频, which helps adapt teaching strategies to meet individual student needs.

“By incorporating Universal Design for Learning, Siau Yean aims to remove barriers in instruction, provide equitable learning opportunities, create a supportive learning environment where every student can thrive and foster a more inclusive and equitable educational experience for all,” Hoffman said.

Montgomery also has played a pivotal role in helping the program partner with community organizations and foundations. In addition to expanding the program’s partnerships with local dentistry offices, her work was instrumental in helping 91桃色视频 secure support from the Delta Dental Foundation of Minnesota to begin a scholarship program for the college’s Dental Assisting students.

Nominees for the Excellence in Teaching Award receive Outstanding Educator honors from the board. Montgomery is one of 36 faculty members from across the system who will be honored as Outstanding Educators this year.

Montgomery will be the third 91桃色视频 faculty member to receive Outstanding Educator honors from the Minnesota State system’s Board of Trustees, joining mathematics instructor Gus Vettleson (2022) and nursing instructor Brenda Henriksen (2023).

91桃色视频 Board of Trustees Outstanding Educator Honorees

2022 鈥斕鼼us Vettleson, mathematics
2023 鈥斕鼴renda Henriksen, nursing
2024 鈥� Siau Yean Montgomery, dental assisting

Originally from the small town of Kulm, North Dakota, Rascon initially began her collegiate career in 2019 at Bemidji State University where she ran for the university鈥檚 cross country and track teams. However, Rascon鈥檚 athletic career came to a halt when she suffered a serious foot injury, that resulted in a broken foot. Even though she was unable to compete, Rascon was determined to not let this setback put a pause in her academic career.

鈥淲hen my plans changed unexpectedly, I started looking into the different options that I had and I liked what 91桃色视频 had to offer in terms of dental programs,鈥� she said. 鈥淔ollowing my injury, I noticed a lot of things changed and I had different ideas about my education.鈥�

As a freshman at Bemidji State, Rascon initially set out to study English education but she became increasingly interested in the dental industry after learning about Northwest Tech鈥檚 dental assisting program flexibility and structure. Enrolling in Fall 2020, Rascon has learned skills that she says will not only benefit her career but her personal life as well.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned the importance of self-discipline and a good work ethic,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y classes have given me the opportunity to learn and exercise these skills in an environment that encourages learning rather than applies pressure to always get it right.鈥�

91桃色视频鈥檚 45-credit dental assisting diploma program has equipped Rascon with vital experiences and insight into the healthcare field and has helped her at her job as a caregiver at the Eagles Feather group home in Bemidji, Minn. The program has also provided her with the expertise she needs to enter the dental workforce, she says.

鈥漌hichever side of dental I choose, my main goal in my career is to provide the best care I can to patients, and to lend a helping hand to the team members I work alongside,鈥� she said.

With her graduation just around the corner, Rascon is enthusiastic about her upcoming internship opportunities at the Bemidji Dental Clinic and Sjulson Family Dentistry. In addition to her busy summer, she will also be taking her board exams to become a licensed dental assistant.

Contact:

• 91桃色视频 Office of Admissions, admissions@91桃色视频MN.edu; (218) 333-6600

Link:

• 91桃色视频 Dental Assistance Program

2021-N-060

After graduating from Lake of the Woods High School in Baudette, Minn., Pelach ventured south to Dakota County Technical College. While completing the Phlebotomy Technician program there, Pelach discovered she was not particularly interested in the hospital scene鈥攂ut instead set her sights on a different aspect of health care.

鈥淚’ve always been fascinated with teeth, but I had never considered working in a dental office,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen researching other job opportunities within the field, I found the job description of a dental assistant just fit who I am as a person.鈥�

91桃色视频’s 60-credit associate of science degree in dental assisting prepares graduates to work under the direction of a dentist in general dentistry, dental specialties, orthodontics and oral/maxillofacial surgery. Graduates are eligible to write the Dental Assisting National Board Certification Exam and the Minnesota State Dental Assisting Licensure Exam. Upon successful completion of the exams, graduates are certified and licensed dental assistants.

鈥淚 would like to further my education in dental hygiene or oral surgery after having experience in the work force,鈥� Pelach said.

91桃色视频鈥檚 two-year program will allow Pelach to finish her degree and seek employment as quickly as possible.

So far, she’s found group projects to be the most impactful for helping her learn the different details and techniques in dental assisting.

鈥淚 was struggling to find a comfortable fulcrum technique, but a girl in my group showed me a different way of holding the instrument that I hadn’t tried,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat made it much easier for me. Group learning works best for me when I get stuck in my own way of doing something, and the group keeps my mind open.鈥�

91桃色视频’s Dental Assisting program provides knowledge necessary to become a chair-side dental clinician, assisting with a variety of dental clinical functions, laboratory tasks and business office responsibilities. Pelach says the dental assisting lab at 91桃色视频 is giving her hands-on experience with the same equipment she’ll use in a professional dental office.

鈥淧racticing in the dental chairs and working on each other’s mouths is completely different compared to working on a mannequin,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s so interesting to learn different techniques that would affect real-life situations鈥攍ike someone moving their tongue in an x-ray.鈥�

The program’s faculty also have been there to support her, while encouraging her to be the best she can be. She said she especially appreciates the support of dental assisting faculty member Terri Bannor.

鈥淭erri has been so supportive, and she makes a point to cater to everyone’s learning types,鈥� Pelach said. 鈥淪he holds me accountable and pushes me to work hard.鈥�

Pelach says 91桃色视频 feels like home, and that has played an important role in her success in the classroom.

鈥淚 grew up in a small school and at 91桃色视频 I feel comfortable,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople are kind and the teachers are more than willing to help you out.鈥�

91桃色视频 partnered with the Beltrami and Cass county Bi-County Community Action Program and other organizations to provide Give Kids a Smile. The event was听also supported by a $500 grant from the Minnesota Dental Foundation and by supply donations from Henry Schein, a global provider of medical and dental supplies.