School of Dentistry honor graduates in annual hooding and award ceremonies

Kristen Zapata

June 10, 2022

This year's School of Dentistry dental and dental hygiene graduates were welcomed as new colleagues by school leadership at their respective programs' hooding and award ceremonies.

Students receiving their doctor of dental surgery degree and their families and friends filled the 751-seat Holly Auditorium on May 19 for a ceremony emceed by Stefanie Seitz, DDS, MEd, assistant dean for students.

In his welcoming address, Dean Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, commended the Class of 2022's achievements by remarking on the more than $6 million in patient care the graduates provided in their four years of training and the countless hours of compassionate care to Central and South Texas' underserved communities. Student researchers also completed 35 scientific publications and presentations, he said.

As is tradition, relatives of graduates who hold a degree in dentistry or medicine were invited to assist in placing the doctoral hood over their senior. The act of hooding ceremoniously signifies the completion of a student's graduate program.

More than 80 awards were given to the graduating dental class for their excellence in leadership, clinical skills, research and academia. Twenty-seven seniors were acknowledged with cords for their distinction in dental education, nine for distinction in research, and one for military service.

Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society, inducted the memberships of the highest academically ranked students among the class to its San Antonio chapter. Among the 14 new inductees was Joelle Foster, DDS, who was named the Class of 2022 valedictorian.

Senior Class President, Pablo Medina, DDS, presented two annual awards on behalf of the graduates. Maria Andrea Bordoy-Soto, DDS, assistant professor/clinical, was named the 2022 Professor of the Year and Angel Vargas, dental laboratory technician-senior, was presented with The Appreciation of Consistently Superior Performance and Recommendation Award.

In a separate ceremony on May 6, hosted by dental hygiene faculty members, 14 scholarships and awards were presented to the Class of 2022 dental hygienists.

The awards recognized the graduates' efforts in outstanding leadership, clinical ability, community dentistry and academic excellence.

The Teaching Honors Program presented cords for distinction in dental education to five students. The title of cum laude was given to four graduates, and Asaiah Lance Balles and Jennifer Pham were named magna cum laude.

The School of Dentistry leadership, faculty and staff send their best wishes to all UT Health San Antonio's 2022 graduates.

View and download hooding ceremony photos.