Fourteen dental hygiene students from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and UH Maui College have received a combined $42,000 in scholarships from the Hawaiʻi Dental Service Foundation to support training for future oral health professionals in the state.
Each of the 14 students was awarded $3,000 to help cover education and clinical training costs.
“The HDS Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that communities across the state have healthy smiles. For HDS, part of this commitment means funding scholarships and other programs to support our local workforce,” said Diane Paloma, president and CEO of Hawaiʻi Dental Service and a member of the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents. “We hope that after graduation, these students will work in Hawaiʻi and serve the state that nurtured them.”
Seven recipients from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa were honoured on February 6 at the Campus Center during a celebration attended by students, families, university leaders, faculty and HDS executives. A separate event is planned for the Maui scholarship recipients.
Kristine Osada, dental hygiene program administrator at UH Mānoa, said the support goes beyond financial aid. “These scholarships provide more than financial assistance — they provide encouragement. Our students balance rigorous coursework and clinical training, and this support allows them to stay focused on becoming skilled, compassionate oral health professionals for Hawaiʻi.”
UH Mānoa offers the state’s only bachelor of science degree in dental hygiene through its School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, preparing students for national and regional licensing examinations. UH Maui College offers an associate degree program that focuses on prevention, education and clinical practice. Both programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Members of the public can book appointments for student-led dental services at clinics on both campuses, where students gain hands-on experience under supervision of licensed faculty.
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