Doing good for goodness' sake:
2007 SADHA Community Service Award
Diane Peterson RDH, MEd and Susanne Kuehl RDH congratulate Idaho State University Dental Hygiene program’s Kathleen Hodges RDH, MS, Professor and Department Chair on being selected to receive the 2007 SADHA Community Service Award.
(2007)
In 2005, the
Idaho State University Dental Hygiene SADHA group initiated a successful community service project in the small rural town of Pocatello, Idaho. Idaho State dental hygiene students offered caries screenings, fluoride treatments, sealants, and oral hygiene instructions to underserved children in the community.
Because of the project’s success, the faculty decided to submit it to the American Dental Hygienists Association for recognition and acknowledgement, without any expectation of compensation or monetary award. Their project was selected to receive the 2005 SADHA Community Service Award.
Denise Bowen, RDH, MS, professor at Idaho State University’s Dental Hygiene program, was present to receive the 2007 SADHA Community Service Award. Shown with Susanne Kuehl, Tom’s of Maine.
But that wasn’t all! Much to their surprise, Idaho State’s SADHA group also learned that Tom’s of Maine would be contributing $5000 to their organization in recognition of their community service. Tom’s of Maine is a values-based natural personal care company whose focus on community service includes charitable programs such as the
Rivers Awareness Partnership,™ which focuses on water quality issues, and
Dental Health for All,™ which supports nonprofit dental clinics.
As a result of the $5000 funding, the Idaho State University Dental Hygiene program transformed the initial project into $25,000 worth of services to the underserved children of Pocatello. They engaged the local dental society to recruit volunteers, published local newspaper articles, and
organized television coverage to benefit the oral health event. Students created corporate partnerships by connecting with manufacturers who were willing to donate material and supplies for the project. Forty-seven students, twenty-two dentists, twenty-two dental hygienists, and fourteen auxiliaries and staff all worked together to treat 122 children in one day!
Tom’s of Maine is incredibly pleased to announce that thanks to this outstanding commitment and vision, the Idaho State University Dental Hygiene program is the recipient of the SADHA Community Service Award for a second time in 2007! They truly exemplify the idea of doing good for goodness’ sake.
Visit the
ADHA web site for details on the 2008 SADHA
Community Service Award, again sponsored by Tom's of
Maine and now expanded into three awards for $3,000
each!
Read about the
2005 winners, Idaho State University, and the
2006 winners, Georgia Perimeter College.
How To Apply
Applications are available starting January 2008 from the
ADHA.
Download a PDF with application information.
ADHA Application Requirements
- 90% SADHA membership
- Class roster must be submitted with application
- Application must be typed
- Application must be completed in full
- Application must be completed by a SADHA member
- Refer to your project rather than by school name or SADHA chapter
ADHA Application Sections
- Target population
- Goals and objectives (clearly label each category)
- Time involved
- Level of participation
- Outcomes
- Describe, in detail, the nature of your community service project
- Share how this project exhibited outstanding community service
