CDHA and Hu-Friedy are offering $5,000 in scholarships to registered dental hygienists pursuing additional
education at
a baccalaureate level or above, to assist them in their dental hygiene career. The 2019 application process
will open
in the summer.
Nancy Chutka
Nancy is very proud to receive a Hu Friedy Nevi 2.0 CDHA scholarship. She has worked as a dental
hygienist in
British Columbia for more than twenty years and is a huge supporter and advocate for the
profession. She leads a
healthy and active lifestyle on beautiful Vancouver Island with her husband, two energetic kids,
and two equally
energetic dogs. Recently, Nancy’s love of the dental hygiene profession led her to make the
decision to complete
her Bachelor of Health Science degree through Thompson Rivers University’s open learning platform.
Her selection as
a scholarship winner has inspired her more than ever to complete her degree and to look for new
opportunities to
further promote the profession of dental hygiene.
Madison Howey
Madison graduated from the University of Alberta with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene (2017)
followed by
a Bachelor of
Science with a specialization in dental hygiene (2018). She is currently pursuing her master’s
degree in
educational research at the University of Calgary, as well as working full time in private
practice. Madison hopes
to eventually return to the University of Alberta as a researcher and educator to help
contribute
to the field of
dental hygiene and share her love of learning with others. In particular, she is interested in
exploring research
methodologies that will enhance the educational experience of dental hygiene students and hopes
to
inspire novice
dental professionals to challenge their worldview, expand their mindset, and to view every
moment
as an opportunity
for growth. Madison strongly believes in lifelong learning and recognizes the great value in
embodying this mindset
as a registered dental hygienist. Madison is dedicated to the profession of dental hygiene, and
her
goal is to
acquire the credentials and expertise necessary to impassion and nurture a love of learning in
the
future leaders
of this profession.
Laura Lanfranchi
Laura is proud to have been able to support clients in their achievement of good oral health
while
working in a
general dental practice in a large urban centre for the past 15 years. She was moved, however,
by
the difficulty a
vulnerable elderly client had in accessing dental hygiene care within a long-term care
facility.
The barriers
facing this client motivated Laura to complete her Bachelor of Science degree at the University
of
British
Columbia, which will enable her to obtain her 365-day exemption and provide independent dental
hygiene care for
vulnerable populations. In her spare time, Laura enjoys running, kayaking, hiking, paddle
boarding,
and practising
yoga.
Gordon Lien
Gordon thanks the Hu-Friedy 2.0 CDHA Scholarship program for supporting his ongoing professional
development. He
obtained his bachelor’s degree in dental sciences from the University of British Columbia.
Prior to
this, he
completed his certification in dental assisting and his Diploma in Dental Hygiene at Vancouver
Community College.
Throughout Gordon’s education, he worked in both the private and public sectors and has been
recognized for his
clinical abilities and educational accomplishments. His passion for oral health promotion and
education has
prompted him to volunteer during Public Health and Community Dental Days and to work in the
oral
oncology
department at the BC Cancer Agency. Gordon is looking forward to completing his master’s degree
in
health
administration, which will allow him to develop a better understanding of the health and needs
of
the Canadian
population. In the future, Gordon hopes to use the knowledge gained during his graduate studies
to
improve the
quality of life and overall health of the population.
Kayla Schneider
Kayla received her Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the College of New Caledonia in 2016. After
taking
a year-long
break from academic learning, she decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from
the
University of
British Columbia while working full time at a busy, client-focused practice in Vernon, BC.
Throughout Kayla’s
education and career, she has enjoyed going above and beyond clinical practice. While studying
for
her diploma, she
created an educational program for school-aged children, which highlighted oral health
information
and was tailored
to different levels of understanding. This experience helped Kayla to recognize that she wanted
to
do more than
just clean teeth; she wants to be an oral health advocate and help others understand and be
proactive about their
oral health. Once Kayla obtains her bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in
public health.
Dedicating her career to this field will allow her to accomplish her twin goals of working with
underserved
communities and advocating the importance of good oral health. When Kayla is not busy as an
oral
health advocate,
she enjoys spending time with her husband and fur family (two cats and two miniature
dachshunds),
hiking and
snowshoeing, designing macramé creations, and more recently, knitting.