Newest Dental Hygiene students begin their education at the WVU School of Dentistry
This week, the West Virginia University School of Dentistry welcomed 19 new students to the dental hygiene Class of 2030.
Arriving on campus from nine states and five West Virginia counties, the newest Mountaineers kicked off their journey with a picnic welcoming them to WVU. The annual event is held in conjunction with the University’s Welcome Week activities and serves as an orientation to the program. In addition to incoming students, the event was attended by all returning students enrolled in the dental hygiene program as well as all faculty and staff in the Department of Dental Hygiene.
During the picnic, students were provided information about expectations and resources as they enter their academic studies, and they had a chance to win raffle prizes and build connections with their peers.
The program at WVU was the first four-year integrated Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene in the U.S., and the WVU School of Dentistry is West Virginia’s only dental school. Throughout their education, students engage in a variety of experiences including lectures, hands-on simulation lab and innovation center training, and interprofessional sessions. They also spend six semesters providing direct patient care at WVU Dental and in communities across the state through a rural rotation experience.
The School’s mission is to improve oral health by transforming students into excellent, service-oriented clinicians, to provide exceptional patient care, and to discover solutions that reduce oral health disparities in the state. The dental hygiene program helps achieve this mission by providing a high-quality curriculum that trains future hygienists to help meet the needs of the state and the profession, which are experiencing a workforce shortage.
The Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Class of 2030 includes:
- Ava Barrett, Franktown, CO
- Lacey Bennett, Mont Alto, PA
- Isabelle Caffrey, Lebanon, NH
- Tyla Crane, Augusta, WV
- Avery Denenberg, Macungie, PA
- Madigan Dunlap, Blairsville, PA
- Alexandrine “Allie” Frye, Buckhannon, WV
- Rose Garrett, Morgantown, WV
- Ava Gately, Yorktown, VA
- Erin Jackson, Middletown, MD
- Jaime Loftus, Romney, WV
- Savannah Morris, Troy, VA
- Claire Munger, Westerville, OH
- Addison Pierce, Falconer, NY
- Lauren Powell, St. Clairsville, OH
- Carlie Powers, Beckley, WV
- Faith Schnur, Renfrew, PA
- Jason Tang, Martinsburg, WV
- Mackenzie Witt, Nokesville, VA
-WVU-
jw/8/18/26
CONTACT: Jessica Wilmoth
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental