Marking many achievements and reaching a well-earned milestone, West Virginia University School of Dentistry graduates received their diplomas during a Commencement Ceremony Friday (May 15) at Hope Coliseum.
Joined by graduates from the schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, the School of Dentistry Class of 2026 was celebrated in a joint ceremony that recognizes the interconnectedness of health professions. During the ceremony, the newest healthcare providers were led by Dr. Louise Veselicky, WVU Health Sciences associate vice president for academic affairs, as they recited the Oath of Interprofessional Education.
To begin the ceremony, Dr. Clay Marsh, chancellor and executive dean for WVU Health Sciences, welcomed the graduates and their families and friends. During his address, he shared his advice for living a longer, better life with meaning.
Following the presentation of diplomas and pinning and hooding rituals, Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean and 1985 graduate of the School of Dentistry, offered his congratulations to the Class of 2026 and offered lessons learned from distance running that apply to life’s journey.
“Build your confidence to prepare for your ‘race-day’. Reduce anxiety, picture yourself handling difficult moments smoothly. Break challenges into manageable segments and focus on reaching the next landmark instead of the entire distance.
“Remember, not every day will go well. Learning from setbacks, avoiding undue self-criticism, maintaining a long-game perspective, and consistency are important during life’s journey.
“Positive thinking, relaxation, and realistic goal setting are just as trainable as your body. Mastering them in life, like in running, can make a challenging situation manageable and, yes, even enjoyable.”
In his closing remarks, President Michael T. Benson spoke to the graduates about boldly carrying forward the University’s land-grant mission of service and leadership.
“Here at West Virginia University, pride in our land-grant mission runs deep, success is earned, and life-changing experiences prepare Mountaineers, like you, to serve others and lead in West Virginia and the world. Your bold future started here.”
Following his remarks, the newest WVU alumni joined together in the tradition of singing “Country Roads” to conclude the ceremony.
Graduates earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree include:
- Sydney Allman
- Maha Alshamma
- Madison Anderson
- Keerthana Arjuna
- Brandon Barnes
- Nichol Coburn
- Kent Digwe
- Sophia Ellia
- Nour Foual
- Dylan Furlong
- Skylar Giddens
- Courtney Glover
- Mira Hamady
- William Hathaway
- Brianna Hodak
- Ariel Holliday
- Jaliyah Hubbard
- Collin Kerr
- David Kines
- Kristen Knotts
- Tyler Linkous
- Kameron Lucky
- Tristan Lucky
- Zachary Matheny
- Jacob Meyer
- Jaclyn Montag
- Grace Myers
- Christopher Neil
- Ryan Neil
- Matthew Ogershok
- Madelyn Owen
- Garrett Pauls
- Joshua Petit
- Katelyn Pinti
- Aashish Pokhrel
- Riley Reesman
- Rachel Reppert
- Harry Russell III
- Hafsa Sabbagh
- Bashar Sadat
- Daniel Saikali
- Matthew Vicini
- Christopher VonScio
- Brittany Walker
- Nicholas Walker
- Mustafa Zaeean
- Sarah Zanabli
Graduates earning a Master of Science in Orthodontics include:
- Dr. Allison Fritz
- Dr. Madison Smith
- Dr. Tamana Spingher
The graduate earning a Master of Science in Periodontics include:
- Dr. Samuel Smith
Graduates earning a Master of Science in Prosthodontics include:
- Dr. Bayan Abuhalimeh
- Dr. Hammad Ul Haq
Graduates earning a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene degree include:
- Madeline Amoia **
- Payton Arbogast
- Abigail Bonham *
- Cheyenne Carr **^
- Josey Glover ***
- Alyssa Guthrie ***
- Ava Kelly
- Kyra Kerr
- Brooke Koper *
- Lilly Namsupak ***
- Yazna Riddick **
- Katelyn Ross *
- Gillian Rupert **
- Carris Seagraves *
- Stephanie Stewart
- Jefferson Umana
- Julianna Watts ***
- Noelle Wonsettler ***
- Ashlynn Zimmerman
In addition to the dental hygiene, dental surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics programs, the WVU School of Dentistry offers an advanced education program in endodontics and GME residency programs in general practice, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and pediatric dentistry.
* Cum Laude
** Magna Cum Laude
*** Summa Cum Laude
^ Honors Foundations Scholar
This is not an official record of degrees awarded. Honors listed are based upon the next-to-last term of enrollment and are not official until all academic work has been certified by the WVU Office of the University Registrar.
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WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental