DCG Celebrates Student Excellence at Senior Awards

More than 60 awards and honors were recently conferred upon members of the Class of 2024 at the annual DCG Senior Award Ceremony. The event recognizes clinical skills, leadership traits, academic success and research achievement among the graduating seniors, along with mentorship, teaching excellence and leadership among DCG faculty.

Dr. Reese King earned six awards: the Academy of Dentistry International (ADI) Student Leadership Award, the Dr. Michael M. Kiyani Ethics in Dentistry Award for a Senior Dental Student, the Brian D. Stone Memorial Award, the Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Horace Wells Senior Student Award, and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Award.

Dr. Dionne Aikhionbare accomplished five awards: the International College of Dentists Student Leadership Award, the Student National Dental Association Officer, the American Academy of Periodontology Dental Student Award, the Alpha Upsilon Phi (AUPhi) Leadership & Service Award, and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) Senior Leadership Achievement Award. Aikhionbare also completed her DMD diploma with a Distinction in Leadership.

Dr. Pari Bhat, Dr. William Cao and Dr. Braden Clinebell all attained four awards, and all were inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) Honor Society.

• Bhat earned the American Prosthodontic Society Award, the American College of Prosthodontists Achievement Award, the American Equilibration Society Outstanding Senior Award, and the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award.
• Cao won the OKU Senior Comprehensive Care Case Award, the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award, the Academy of Operative Dentistry, and the Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Achievement Award.
• Clinebell received the American Association of Orthodontists Senior Student Award, the American Academy of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology, the AUP Leadership Award, and the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award.

  Dr. Cathy Tran and Dr. Roslyn Joseph each received three awards:

• Tran earned the Pierre Fauchard Academy Outstanding Academic Achievement, the Quintessence Award for Research Achievement, and the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award, and was also inducted into the PKP Honor Society. In addition, Tran finished her DCG diploma with a Distinction in Research.

• Joseph won the GDA/ASDA Outstanding Student Award, the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) Award of Excellence and the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award. She was also inducted into the PKP Honor Society.

Dr. Tiger Yang, Dr. Isabella Batallas, Dr. Helen Ho, Dr. Robert London, Dr. Robert Griffeth and Dr. Awaz Yaseen all received two awards:

• Yang was named the DCG Outstanding Senior Award, and given the OKU Senior Academic Achievement Award. Yang was also inducted into the PKP Honor Society, and completed his DCG diploma with a Distinction in Research.
• Batallas received the Dr. Jeanne Craig Sinkford Student Leadership and the AUP Leadership Award. In addition, Batallas finished her DCG diploma with a Distinction in Leadership.
• Ho earned the US Public Health Service Award and the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Student Award. Ho also completed her DCG diploma with a Distinction in Research.
• London won the Mark Ritz Memorial Scholarship from the Georgia Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Oral Medicine Award. He was also honored for his work as Class President.
• Griffeth was awarded the Association of Endodontists Student Achievement, and the AUP Leadership Award.
• Yaseen won the Academy of Osseointegration Outstanding Student in Implant Dentistry and the Southeastern Academy of Prosthodontics Award.

More students were honored with specific awards:

• Dr. Alexis Willis was honored for her role as American Student Dental Association President.
• Dr. Andrew Sanders was selected for the CAD/CAM Award.
• Dr. Corey Eisner was given the International Congress of Oral Implantologists Predoctoral Achievement Award.
• Dr. Dakota Garber earned the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Award.
• Dr. David Watson  achieved the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons William H. Bell Award.
• Dr. Elizabeth Keller accomplished the Quintessence Award for Clinical Achievement in Periodontics.
• Dr. Garret Gomez received General Dentistry Mike Davenport, DMD Achievement Award.
• Dr. Gray King was chosen for the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry Award.
• Dr. Jacob Bass received the Ronald E. Goldstein Esthetic Dentistry Award.
• Dr. Jeny Dominguez won the Newton Federal Bank (formally Affinity Bank) Award.
• Dr. Joanna Torres received the International College of Dentists Student Humanitarian Award .
• Dr. Miles Woodard earned the Dr. Carole M. Hanes Pediatric Dentistry Spirit Award.
• Dr. Oana Crisan won the Hanau Best of the Best in Prosthodontics Award by WhipMix.
• Dr. Ryan Smith was selected for the American College of Dentists Student Professionalism Award.
• Dr. Shiv Bhakta was granted the Quintessence International Award for Clinical Excellence.
• Dr. Teresa Cerchiara won the American Association of Women Dentists’ Eleanor J. Bushee Award.
• Dr. Thomas Marchman received the Academy Of General Dentistry Award
• Dr. Tyler Day was awarded the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Dental Implant Award.
• Dr. Abigail Mincey was awarded an Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology Achievement Award.

The event also honored faculty for the contributions to educating the next generation of dental professionals:

• Dr. Ray Jeter was named DCG Most Valuable Faculty by the graduating seniors.
• Dr. Ahmed El-Awady earned the American College of Dentists Faculty Professionalism Award