WVU School of Dentistry presents scholarships, awards to 75 students
In support of the next generation of oral health leaders, the West Virginia University School of Dentistry presented 55 unique scholarships and awards to 75 students for the 2025-26 academic year. A ceremony to honor their achievements and recognize generous scholarship donors was held Sept. 26 at Erickson Alumni Center.
This year’s scholarships and awards totaled more than $525,000.
Students enrolled in the B.S. in Dental Hygiene, Doctor of Dental Surgery and advanced education programs are following their purpose to serve others and improve well-being through oral health, but the increased cost of education is becoming a barrier for many wishing to enter the field of dentistry. Through privately funded merit-, talent- and need-based scholarships, students receive support for their education that helps reduce the stress of financial burden and allows them focus on their training to become highly qualified, service-oriented clinicians.
This year’s scholarship and award recipients are as follows:
Dental Hygiene
- Lisa A. Smith Memorial Award: Yazna Riddick
- Mary F. Sanders Memorial Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Josey Glover
- Melissa Carlson Armstrong Memorial Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Brooke Koper
- Ann Vargo Rogers Scholarship: Josey Glover
- Linda S. Edwards, RDH, BS, MA, Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Josey Glover
- Margaret J. Epperly Scholarship for Dental Hygiene: Noelle Wonsettler
- McMechen-Hock Family Scholarship for Dental Hygiene: Alissa Rizo
- Judith Grubb Dental Hygiene Scholarship: Lesleigh Ball
- Margaret Howard Teeter WVU Dental Scholarship: Alyssa Guthrie
- Sigma Phi Alpha Sophomore Award: Lexie Patru
- WVU School of Dentistry Alumni Association Instrument Award: Lesleigh Ball
- LEDRS Scholarship: Katelyn Ross and Morgan Wills
Advanced Education Programs
- Dr. John H. Dempsey Orthodontic Scholarship: Dr. Laura Burrows
- James A. Griffin Chief Endodontic Resident Scholarship: Dr. Dakota Bailey
Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Dr. Camillo Alberico Scholarship: Kaitlyn Crist, Julia Gianni and Sarah Zanabli
- Norman H. & Nathan P. Baker Dental Scholarship: Kent Digwe, Jaliyah Hubbard and Aaliyah Williams
- Thelma M. Boyers Trust School of Dentistry Scholarship: Jacob Kalaskey, Sidney Karnes, Jason Plants and Lucy Powers
- Dentistry Scholarship in Memory of Champe O. Butler Sr.: Charles Simpson
- John L. and Hazel L. Sutton Dental Scholarship: Sophia Ellia, Collin Kerr and Nicole Sacco
- Dr. Clarence C. & Maxine D. Cottrill General Dentistry Scholarship: Katelyn Pinti.
- Dr. David G. Edwards Dental Scholarship: Madison Anderson
- Dr. Patrick J. Farace Memorial Scholarship: Collin Kerr
- Class of 1970 – Dr. S. Phillip Farley Memorial Scholarship: Hawraa Al Qassab and Danielle Wydick
- Frieman/Wilner Dentistry Scholarship: Mira Hamady
- Dr. Mohssen and Mrs. Karen Ghalichebaf Cleft Lip/Palate Scholarship: Riley Reesman
- Dennis “PJ” Zickefoose, DDS Memorial Scholarship: Grace Myers and Matthew Vicini
- DDS Class of ’76 Scholarship: Kaiden Hammer
- DDS Class of 1981 Memorial Scholarship: Sidney Karnes
- Ghareeb Dental Group School of Dentistry Scholarship: Madelyn Owen
- Dr. Paul Ronald Graziani Memorial Scholarship: Brittany Walker
- John W. Hatcher Memorial Scholarship: Christopher VonScio
- Sabe Isaac & Rose Mary Howard Memorial Scholarship: Nicholas Walker
- Simon P. Hullihen Memorial Award: Courtney Glover, Collin Kerr and Bashar Sadat
- Kanawha Valley Dental Society Dentistry Scholarship: Joshua Petit
- Dr. Carl Lemley and Mary Eugenia Kennedy Family Scholarship: Christopher Whyte
- Dr. Robert and Lori Martino Scholarship for Dentistry: Caroline Cartwright
- Dr. Matthew Mathias School of Dentistry Scholarship: Keerthana Arjuna
- Dr. Jeffrey Scott McCoy Memorial Dental Scholarship: Daniel Sturgeon
- Drs. Moe and Jennifer Momen Compassionate Care Dental Scholarship: Brianna Hodak and Ariel Holliday
- Thomas P. Moore Dental Scholarship: Maria Salon
- Othman Family Scholarship: Nathan Hazel
- Panagakos Family Dentistry Scholarship: Matthew Ogershok and Madelyn Valoroso
- Joe (DDS ’76) and Cathy Rice Dental Scholarship: Sydney Allman and Evan McCray
- Ralph J. (Buck) Rutledge Dentistry Scholarship: Alidaad Daneshvar
- Dr. Shellenberger Dentistry Scholarship: Jaclyn Montag and Aashish Pokhrel
- Col. Elliot R. Shulman, DDS, MS, Endowed Dental Scholarship: Lisa Eller
- Skaff Family Endowment: Maryum Muzaffer
- Imbrogno Spears School of Dentistry Scholarship: Adrian Coalson
- Smoot Memorial Scholarship: Kent Digwe
- Dr. Frank Stevens Student Scholarship: Parker Miller, Hannah Stapleton and Joshua Wagoner
- Geraldine Core Willis Scholarship: David Kines, Madelyn Lalama and Cathryn Myer
- Dr. Richard L. and Dr. Edward E. Howard Dentistry Scholarship: Katelyn Pinti
- Dr. David C. Swann Class of 1980 Endowment: Christopher Neil
- Dr. William D. Hill School of Dentistry Scholarship: Ellora Foggin
- W. Christopher and Gina Ann Taylor Dentistry Scholarship: Matthew Newton
- Dr. Nancy Burton Waitkus Dental Scholarship: Kameron Lucky and Tristan Lucky
- Dr. & Mrs. James Caveney & Family Dental Table Clinic Award: Sophia Ellia and Brittany Walker
- LEDRS Scholarship: Anderson Hill and Tyler Linkous
- West Virginia Dental Tuition Waiver: Jonathan Cook, Jacob Estep, Cameron Kimble and Christopher VonScio
This is the first year the DDS Class of 1981 Memorial Scholarship and Dr. William D. Hill School of Dentistry Scholarship have been awarded.
The ceremony also included the induction of six new members into the School’s Pylons Alliance Loyalty Society. Affectionately known as PALS, the giving society recognizes donors who help advance the mission of the school by providing significant financial support.
This year’s inductees include Dr. Scott Q. Little and Diane Little and four individuals who wish to remain anonymous. They join 72 members who have been inducted into PALS since it was established by the School of Dentistry Leadership Council in 2022.
Alumni and friends considering a gift to the WVU School of Dentistry to help future students with their educational investment can provide support through several giving opportunities. The WVU Foundation assists donors interested in annual giving, planned giving, gifts in kind, corporate giving, stocks and securities, memorial donations and matching gifts. Gifts can be made online at give.wvu.edu/dentistry.
For more information, contact Director of Development Dee O’Palko.
Scholarship gifts are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
Photo at top: Laura Aliff, daughter of Dr. Frank Stevens, and Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, present Joshua Wagoner, Hannah Stapleton and Parker Miller with the Dr. Frank Stevens Student Scholarship.
-WVU-
jw/10/10/25
CONTACT: Jessica Wilmoth
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental