Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter

The Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter is a force to be reckoned with. This busy group plans multiple events a year and continues to grow its student bursary fund. Its upcoming offering is a continuing education seminar on the topic of defluoridation in Alberta. The seminar will compare children's oral health and equity in Edmonton and Calgary. We deeply appreciate the work of our chapter volunteers: Helen Massini, '99 BSc(Spec), '03 Dip(DentHyg), Alexandra Sheppard, '91 BA, '93 Dip(DentHyg), '05 MEd, Alysha Ferguson, '08 Dip(DentHyg), '09 BSc(DentHyg), Wylie Au, '07 BSc, '09 Dip(DentHyg), '10 BSc(DentHyg), Nicole Hannigan, '09 Dip(DentHyg), '10 BSc(DentHyg), Darlene Fraser, '74 Dip(DentHyg), Andria Wester, '06 BSc, '11 Dip(DentHyg), Caitlin Couronne, '15 Dip(DentHyg), Kimi Khabra, '12 Dip(DentHyg), '13 BSc(DentHyg), Joanne Carr, '16 Dip(DentHyg), and Nadia Kobagi, '11 Dip(DentHyg), '12 BSc(DentHyg). Here's what some of them had to say about their volunteer experience with the Alumni Association.

Why do you volunteer for the University of Alberta?

Helen: I am proud of my school and the education I received here and was more than willing to give back to that community and stay connected.

Alexandra: I am honoured to be part of the University of Alberta community and I am proud to be part of the Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter. The U of A provided me with a great education and it seems appropriate to give back to the community. I think all U of A alumni should give back in some capacity to their alma mater.

Caitlin: I volunteer for the U of A because it provides a unique experience, apart from attending as a student, for decision making, collaboration and giving back to the institution.

Alysha: I volunteer for the U of A as a way to stay connected. It gives me a chance to talk to other alumni and professors from the university, as well as current university students. I find it is a great social activity that also keeps me up-to-date with others in my profession.

Kimi: I volunteer at the U of A to stay updated and reflect on the growth and development of both the institution and the Dental Hygiene Program.

Why do you think it's important for grads to volunteer their time?

Helen: Once you graduate and are out in the real world, it is easy to feel disconnected. Volunteering, in any capacity, allows you to feel linked to your community and also benefits the group of people in that circle.

Alexandra: I really like having the opportunity to meet and mingle with the recent grads from the dental hygiene program. It's great to see their accomplishments and how much they have grown since graduation. I have had the opportunity to plan for my 10- and 20-year dental hygiene reunions. They have been rewarding experiences and it has been fabulous to see classmates again.

Caitlin: As a student representative on the chapter, I think it is important for grads to volunteer their time because no one can provide more insight into the experiences than those who have gone through them themselves. I feel very enlightened sharing opportunities and taking part in events with the grads.

Alysha: I think grads benefit from the community the alumni association provides. Volunteering at the U of A is also a great way to network with others, especially within your profession.

Kimi: I think it's important for grads to volunteer their time as a way to give back to the university. The U of A has given me countless opportunities and helped me develop both personally and professionally. Through volunteering I feel I'm contributing in a tiny way to this great institution.

What do you personally want to achieve by volunteering for the U of A?

Helen: A sense that I've positively contributed to the greater good.

Caitlin: I want to build relationships with the Dental Hygiene Alumni group and work together to help and improve experiences for future students.

Alysha: My goal is the same as that of the Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter - to help foster connections within our profession. It's rewarding to speak to grads from the 1963 class and find how far dental hygiene has progressed at the University of Alberta since its inception. In the same sense, it is neat to find out what the current students are studying, especially those pursuing postgraduate studies, and find out what direction the profession of dental hygiene is heading.

Kimi: As both a graduate student and a clinician, I want to bring a dual-sided lens of the U of A dental hygiene program. With the recent development of the masters in dental hygiene, I think it's important to show the endless and versatile opportunities the U of A program offers. I want to serve as encouragement for both students and alumni that may be considering graduate studies.

What does volunteering mean to you?

Helen: Volunteering, to me, means building a community, which is defined as "a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals."

Alexandra: Volunteering means giving back to the community, to the U of A, without an expectation of anything in return. To me, it means enjoying the camaraderie of classmates, former students and friends.

Caitlin: Volunteering is offering one's time and effort in exchange for happiness and fulfillment from the community, institution or organization.

Alysha: To me, volunteering means participating. It's easy to just opt out and not spend the time, but if you decide to put in that little bit of effort, it really is rewarding.

Kimi: Volunteering for me is simply contributing; it's a way I am able to give back.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Alysha: The Dental Hygiene Alumni Chapter is a great group of U of A grads. The chapter has achieved a lot since it started, including the annual bursary that is awarded to a dental hygiene student every year, and provides a number of opportunities for students and grads to socialize and reconnect. I have been a part of the chapter for four years now and have always had positive experiences, both at the meetings and events. Everyone is supportive of each other, which makes it easy to bring forward suggestions and new ideas.