Â鶹´«Ã½

14 Â鶹´«Ã½dental hygiene students receive $42,000 in HDS scholarships

HDS scholarship recipients
Reading time: 2 minutes
H D S scholarship recipients
UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ scholarship recipients with SONDH Dean Clementina Ceria-Ulep and dental hygiene faculty (Photo courtesy: HDS Foundation)

Fourteen dental hygiene students from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ and UH Maui College received a combined $42,000 in scholarships from the Â鶹´«Ã½ Dental Service (HDS) Foundation, supporting the next generation of oral health professionals across the state.

Saneishi-Kim, student and Paloma pose for photo
HDS Foundation Director Shere Saneishi-Kim, an HDS scholar and Diane Paloma, CEO of HDS and UH regent.

“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, HDS president and CEO and UH Board of Regents member. “We hope that after graduation, these students will work in Â鶹´«Ã½ and serve the state that nurtured them.”

Seven UH Mānoa recipients were honored February 6 at the UH Mānoa Campus Center during a celebration attended by students and their ʻohana, university administrators, faculty and HDS executives. A separate event for the Maui scholarship recipients is also planned.

Each of the 14 students received $3,000 to support their education and clinical training.

Wendy Hensel addressing scholars at event
UH President Wendy Hensel congratulates the HDS scholars at the event.

The recipients are:

  • UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹—Caitlin Raquel Baclay, Ari Bang, Maria Cabasag, Carly Koki-Tupuola, Kimberly Magsipoc, Natalie Morimoto and Shareena Lei Pascual
  • UH Maui College—Samantha Buechler, Emmie-Lynn Campos, Geila Guzman, Joanna Javier, Samantha Oliveira Gasmen Goodman, Sarah Singh and Kaitlyn Yamada

“These scholarships provide more than financial assistance — they provide encouragement,” said Kristine Osada, dental hygiene program administrator at UH Mānoa. “Our students balance rigorous coursework and clinical training, and this support allows them to stay focused on becoming skilled, compassionate oral health professionals for Â鶹´«Ã½.”

UH Mānoa’s , offered through its (SONDH), is the only bachelor’s-level dental hygiene degree in the state and prepares students for national and regional licensure examinations. offers an , a cohort-based program emphasizing prevention, education and clinical practice. Both programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Related UH News story: High-quality, low-cost dental cleaning with training hygienists

Hands-on dental care for the community

The public can book appointments for student-led dental services at either campus clinic. There, students gain hands-on clinical experience under licensed faculty supervision. Learn more about the or the .

Related Posts:

Back To Top