Dental hygiene students win top prizes

NORWALK - Cerritos College's dental hygiene students took home top prizes at the American Dental Hygienists' Association national competition in Nashville, Tenn., on June 16.This year, students Jackie Counterman and Joni Fisher won first place in the Original Research Category with a presentation titled "The Big Cover Up." The team utilized the expertise of the college's Biology Department to conduct a portion of their research. Each year, students in the Cerritos College Dental Hygiene Program compete in a national table clinic competition, which is a table top competition addressing a topic in dental hygiene. Students are judged on the quality of the board, qualify of the presentation and timeliness of the topic. A total of 64 table clinics from across the nation competed this year. "We are particularly proud, as our students competed against students from four-year universities," said Adelle Krayer, director of the dental hygiene program. Counterman and Fisher were approached by representatives from dental hygiene journals encouraging them to publish their research. Additionally, in the Information Category, Jenn Edington and Katie Carter took home fourth place with their table clinic titled "Connecting the Dots: TMD & Body Posture." "It was an honor to be in Nashville with our students, watching their presentations and interactions with fellow colleagues, and to see all of their hard work pay off," said Dani Carroll, senior clinic director and student advisor. "I am very proud of our students and eagerly welcome them to their chosen profession of dental hygiene."

********** Published: June 30, 2011 - Volume 11 - Issue 10