Time and time again, dental hygiene and doctor of dental surgery graduates from West Virginia University quickly profess the one-on-one interaction with peers and faculty is part of what makes the oral healthcare programs in Morgantown, WV so appealing. However, for the School of Dentistry Class of 2023, COVID-19 threatened that popular attribute.
“The COVID-19 pandemic took hold and drastically altered not only our lives but also the lives of everyone else in the world,” Rachael Johnson, president of the dental hygiene class of 2023, said during the May 13 commencement ceremony. “We began sophomore year knowing only half of our class because of the social distancing approach. The other half was just faces hidden behind a screen.”
Still, 23 dental hygiene and 44 dental students did what Mountaineers do.
“You persevered. You stayed focused. You made it through the day. And the next day, and the next day, all the way to today,” Hunter Palmer, president of the doctor of dental surgery class of 2023, said at the celebration.
Keynote speaker, Dr. George Shepley, president of the American Dental Association and 1977 dental school alumnus, told the new oral healthcare providers the profession will be better and stronger because of them.
“In the 46 years since graduation, I have seen scientific and technological advances transform nearly every aspect of patient care. Our profession has navigated every major public health crisis from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19. Dentistry has evolved through it all – knowing better, doing better and going from strength to strength,” Shepley said.
Whether their career in dentistry is “the realization of a childhood dream, the continuation of family legacy or the fulfillment of a desire to make a difference”, Shepley told the graduates their most recent quest is the just the beginning of a rewarding future.
“I’m here to tell you—in your career, you will truly get a sense of what it feels like to achieve all these things and more. You will see how rewarding it can be. You will confirm every hope you might have about the positive impact you can make on other people’s lives,” he said.
As restrictions in patient care and higher education were lifted and COVID-19 became less of a threat to the well-being of students, faculty, staff and patients, the class of 2023 eased back into face-to-face classes, direct patient care, community outreach and rural rotations. Some would say they are stronger for withstanding those initial setbacks in their college careers. “Given the many changes we have experienced during our time at WVU, I'm proud of our class because I know we are ready for whatever the future may hold,” Johnson said.
And, day by day, the class of 2023 is destined to make a difference.
“Always remember that you can actually change lives, one tooth at a time. Whether it’s an early cancer screening, a full mouth rehab, or just a conversation with a nervous patient, you can change everything for one person, and that’s how we can impart change in the world,” Palmer said.
Class of 2023 Bachelor of Science, Dental Hygiene
Jacqueline Suzanne Beall, Annapolis, MD, Summa Cum Laude
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Taylor Linnea Bittenbender, Crystal Lake, Illinois, Magna Cum Laude
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Katherine Grace Bixler, West Chester, PA, Magna cum laude
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Erin Taylor Chopak, Lewisberry, PA
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Kayla Leigh Clark, Parkersburg, WV, Magna cum laude
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Jenna Nicolle Colagiovanni, Monongahela, PA
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Kailey Alexis Cullen, Charles Town, WV, Magna cum laude
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Jodi Anne Drumheller, Saint Albans, WV, Magna cum laude
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Halie Breann Duba, Man, WV
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Hannah Brooke Duba, Man, WV
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Justice LeAnne Duvall, Inwood, WV
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George Benjamin Harris V, Waverly, WV, Summa cum laude
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Rachael Nicole Johnson, Saint Marys, PA
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Savannah Pearl Lahey, Charleston, WV, Summa cum laude
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Haley Liu, Spencer, WV
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Amanda Lux, Burke, VA, Magna cum laude
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Savannah Rae McSwain, Morgantown, WV
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Megan Ann Merritt, Monaca, PA, Magna cum laude
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Hannah Alexis Nicoletti, Whitinsville, Massachusetts, Cum laude
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Mackenzie Marie Parker, Hollywood, Maryland, Summa cum laude
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Alice Salter-Roy, Bellows Falls, Vermont, Magna cum laude
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Kayley Jean Sisler, Garrett County, Maryland
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Darcie Page Trotter, Teays Valley, WV, Magna cum laude
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Class of 2023, DDS
Bailey Jordan Aab, Clendenin, WV
Bailey was hooded by Dr. Michael Bagby.
Mohamad Ghaith Al halak, Damascus, Syria
Mohamad was hooded by Dr. Jonathan Abraham.
Ali Alterki, Kuwait
Ali was hooded by his father, Dr. Abdulmohsen Alterki.
Callaway Morgan Anderson, Austin, Texas
Callaway was hooded by Dr. Stephen Pachuta.
Fatmah Atash, Kuwait
Fatmah was hooded by Dr. Savannah Bryner.
Senior Superlative - Friendliest
Blake Nicholas Bachner, Pittsburgh, PA
Blake was hooded by Dr. Gina Graziani.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to Become Dean of a Dental School
Dakota Bailey, Princeton, WV
Dakota was hooded by Dr. Michael Cavender.
Kyle Thomas Bird, Charleston, WV
Kyle was hooded by Dr. Jonathan Abraham.
Family at senior banquet
Andrew Brian Bishop, Summersville, WV
Andrew was hooded by his brother, Dr. Mason Bishop, and his wife Dr. Morgan Kesecker Bishop.
Senior Superlative – Best Smile
Jared Hunter Butler, South Charleston, WV
Jared was hooded by Dr. Jonathan Abraham.
Brittany Renee Carver, Barlow, Ohio
Brittany was hooded by Dr. Shahla Azadi.
Eamonn Daniel Cronin, Inwood, WV
Eamonn was hooded by Dr. Matt Kime.
Wijdan Dabeek, Syria
Wijdan was hooded by her parents, Dr. Naser Dabeek and Dr. Abir Habib.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to Publish Groundbreaking Dental Research
Ashley Rene Faddis, Waynesburg, PA
Ashley was hooded by her grandfather, Dr. Billy C. Schamp, and her aunt, Dr. M. Rene Schamp.
Allison Paige Fritz, Beaver, WV
Allison was hooded by Dr. Daniel Foley.
Mark Alan Gilkerson, Beckley, WV
Mark was hooded by his wife, Dr. Tamara Barghouthi.
James Thaddeus Goots, Bridgeport, WV
James was hooded by Dr. Jonathan Abraham.
Grant Tyler Hodges, Oldsmar, Florida
Grant was hooded by Dr. Kimberley Zaremba-Rabatin.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to be a Future Faculty at WVU
Madison Hull Smith, Fancy Gap, Virginia
Madison was hooded by Dr. Matthew Harper.
Family at senior banquet
Mays Abdullah Ibraheem, Morgantown, WV
Mays was hooded by Dr. Gina Graziani.
Brittany Anne Joseph, Charleston, WV
Brittany was hooded by Dr. Bruce Cassis.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to be President of the ADA
Mariam Waheed Khan, Beckley, WV
Mariam was hooded by her husband, Dr. Justin TenBrook.
Senior Superlative – Most Changed
Vaidehi Kumar, Richmond, Virginia
Vaidehi was hooded by Dr. Samuel Dorn.
Senior Superlative – Most Artistic
Elizabeth Victoria Labuda, Uniontown, PA
Elizabeth was hooded by her father Dr. Joseph Labuda.
Cole Logan Lanier, South Charleston, WV
Cole was hooded by his wife, Dr. Sarah Lanier.
Brittany Nicole Lewis, Beaufort, North Carolina
Brittany was hooded by Dr. Barrett Davis.
Samuel Columbo Martino, Clarksburg, WV
Samuel was hooded by his brothers, Dr. David Martino and Dr. John Martino.
Senior Superlative – Most likely to be late to graduation (He was early.)
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to Start a Fire Doing Lab Work (Things happen sometimes.)
Ryan Charles Massinople, Charleston, WV
Ryan was hooded by Dr. Gina Graziani.
Keer Mesineni, Morgantown, WV
Keer was hooded by Dr. Matthew Harper.
Senior Superlative – Biggest Flirt
Brittany Downs Moleta, New Bern, NC
Brittany was hooded by Dr. Matthew Harper.
Ashley Raine Noah, Ridgeley,WV
Ashley was hooded by Dr. Savannah Bryner.
Hunter Logan Palmer, Harpers Ferry, WV
Hunter was hooded by Dr. J. R. Chambers.
Senior Superlative – Most Well-Liked by their Patient
At senior banquet
Jacob Paul Pancake, New Martinsville, WV
Jacob was hooded by his brother, Dr. Alex Pancake.
Nidhi Patel, Morgantown, WV
Nidhi was hooded by her husband, Dr. Brijesh Patel.
Payal Bhagat, Goffstown, NH
Payal was hooded by Dr. Jonathan Abraham.
Austin Michael Perdue, Bridgeport, WV
Austin was hooded by Dr. Tyler Brown.
Samantha Lynn Phelix, Winfield, WV
Samantha was hooded by Dr. Matthew Harper.
Senior Superlative – Most Organized
John Joseph Pitzer, Bel Air, Maryland
John was hooded by Dr. Michael Petrides.
Chase Nelson Preston, Logan, WV
Chase was hooded by Dr. Sarah Lanier.
Lauren Srivastava, Morgantown, WV
Lauren was hooded by her husband, Dr. Mohit Srivastava.
Gregory Traver, Purcellville, Virginia
Gregory was hooded by Dr. Lora Graves.
Family at senior banquet
Logan Ray Webb, Danville, WV
Logan was hooded by his aunt, Dr. Ginger Chasolen.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to Help You with Your Lab Work
John Byron Wilfong II, Bridgeport, WV
John was hooded by his grandfather, Dr. J.B. Wilfong and his father, Dr. Byron Wilfong.
Senior Superlative – Most Likely to Become the Dentist for a Professional Sports Team
Nick Xie, Nanjing, China
Nick was hooded by his wife, Dr. Charlene Rein.
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Advanced Education
Dr. Leslie P. Wolford, Lima, Peru
Dr. Wolford completed 26 months of postgraduate training in Endodontics leading to a Master of Science Degree and certificate in Endodontics. Dr. Samuel Dorn, program chair, awarded Dr. Wolford her certificate. Click to learn more about the endodontic program.
Certificates for the advanced education program graduates in Orthodontics and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery are conferred during separate ceremonies.
Faculty Awards
Each year, students in the dental and dental hygiene classes vote for their faculty of the year.
Dr. Michael Cavender, endodontist, was given a certificate of honor.
Ms. Elizabeth Puette, dental hygienist, received the outstanding teacher award.
Photo galleries
2023 Senior Banquet
2023 Commencement photos by HSC
2023 Commencement Ceremony
2023 Student Awards Ceremony