Scholarship Opportunities

• HSURP is open to all majors
• Students must plan to be enrolled full-time during the fall semester after participating in HSURP
• Meet the requirements of good standing in the Honors College
• Letter of recommendation from faculty, academic advisor or university staff employed outside of the Honors College 

Upon receiving an offer from HSURP, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:

• To devote full effort to conducting the HSURP project; students must disclose plans to take summer courses, hold a job, or any involvement in activities that may conflict with HSURP before accepting the offer
• To update digital time sheets, detailing work done on a day-to-day basis
• To regularly update a blog outlining your experience with your research and your progress in the program
• To submit two written reflection assignments during the program
• To participate in weekly workshops, group meetings, social activities, etc.
• To present at the culminating poster symposium during the last week of the program
• If you have questions, contact Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Mason at jsmithmason@vcu.edu

• Participants receive hands-on research experience guided by a faculty mentor
• Excellent preparation to apply to a graduate or professional degree program or a national scholarship
• Build community with honors students
• Gain public speaking and presentation experience
• Strategies for making the most out of attending conferences Professional development opportunities (e.g., resume and  interviewing skills)
• Social activities: museum & park visits, pizza & movie nights, exploring Richmond
• Stipend: $4,000

To mark their 50th reunion, the D.D.S. Class of 1962 created an endowed scholarship in memory of their dean, Dr. Harry Lyons. Members of the class shared many memories of the positive and profound influence Dean Lyons had on their personal and professional lives. The 50-year class established the Dean Harry Lyons Student Scholarship Endowment to support a dental student in good standing who is a Virginia resident with financial need.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in good academic standing
• Financial need
• Virginia resident

Dr. John D. Stephens was a member of the Class of 1951, the group that distinguishes itself as the only class to be completely comprised of World War II veterans. Stephens served his country and served his chosen profession. And now, following his passing in 2011, his scholarship will serve students as they pursue their dental education. The John D. Stephens Endowed Scholarship Fund, which will be awarded to students with critical financial need, was established in Stephens' memory.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student enrolled in the first, second, third or fourth year in good academic standing
• Preference given to students with critical/severe financial difficulties

Dr. Edmond Theodore Glenn attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was an ardent tarheel. He loved the mountains of N.C., especially in Avery County, the site of his Appalachian retreat. Glenn was an avid outdoorsman and a vivid conversationalist. He played a mean hand of bridge and could pound out a tune on the organ. Glenn was fourth in his class at the MCV School of Dentistry, graduating in 1934. His work as a scholar led to his specialization in exodontias. Dr. Harry Lyons, the dean of the dental school during Glenn's years there, recalled he was "always gentlemanly" as a student, and his demeanor won him the admiration of everyone who knew him.Lorena Lawrence Glenn established this fund in honor of her husband in 1992.

Required Criteria:

• Exemplifies the ethical standards of the dental profession
• Junior or senior dental student
• Shows evidence of future leadership

To mark their 25th reunion, the D.D.S. Class of 1986 created an endowed scholarship to benefit a rising fourth-year student in good standing who demonstrates clinical excellence. The class won the "Dean's Reunion Challenge" as the reunion class raising the most money from the largest number of alumni. Their efforts yielded an extra $50,000 bonus to this endowment.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrates clinical excellence
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Rising fourth-year student

The fund was established in 2001 by the members of the class of 1977 in honor of their 25th reunion. The money raised was in response to a challenge from the class of 1951, whose members created a scholarship in commemoration of their 50th anniversary.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student
• Virginia resident

The fund was created with a stock gift by R. Ashton Gay, a 1923 graduate of the MCV School of Dentistry, and his wife. The fund honors the Gays and memorializes Mrs. Gay's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Vaughan. The scholarship continues to grow through an estate bequest from Gay.

Required Criteria:

• Dental and dental hygiene students in any class year

Dr. John J. Lacy Jr. began his education at Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1963 with a degree in biology. He then entered the MCV School of Dentistry and graduated with the Class of 1967. After earning his dental degree, he pursued specialty training in oral surgery at Norfolk General Hospital (now Sentara Norfolk General Hospital) followed by a one-year residency in anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital in N. Y.At the completion of his residency, he was called to active military duty and served 42 months at the U.S. Army Hospital in occupied Berlin. Upon discharge from the Army in 1973, he and his family moved to Waynesboro, Va. to establish his practice and make their home.Lacy and his wife, Carolyn, decided to establish a scholarship in appreciation for everything that dentistry has provided them. Dentistry afforded Lacy an entry into the ranks of a respected profession. He has never forgotten Dean Harry Lyons' remarks during his first week of dental school about what distinguishes a professional from other people. They profess not only a higher education and great skill, but they also profess a dedication to use these skills for the betterment of their fellow man without regard to personal gain.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Enrolled in third or fourth year of the dental program
• Exhibited leadership skills in dental school
• Preference given to graduates of Virginia Military Institute
• Preference given to Va. residents

Dr. Dwight H. "Doc" Shull was born on Dec. 13, 1921, in Bridgewater, Va. He attended Bridgewater College, where he competed on the track, baseball and basketball teams. Shull attended the MCV School of Dentistry and earned his degree in 1944, graduating second in his class. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain while serving in the Philippines and Japan.After the war, Shull set up his practice in Blacksburg, Va., but his heart was in Bridgewater, where he returned and remained until retirement. In his hometown, he became an ardent outdoorsman. Shull developed a love for native wildflowers and shared his knowledge by lecturing on them and photographing them. He participated in water quality surveys and worked with the Virginia Game Commission to protect the flowers and their environment. Shull's public service extended to other areas, such as Little League, the volunteer rescue squad and volunteer fire company.He also provided funds to improve Bridgewater's parks and soccer fields.Shull extended his generosity to the VCU School of Dentistry by establishing the Dwight H. Shull Scholarship Fund.

Required Criteria:

• Dental or dental hygiene student in any class year
• Preference to students from Rockingham or Augusta Counties, Virginia

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Enrolled in the third or fourth year of the dental program
• Exhibits leadership skills while in dental school

Sanford, "Sonny" L. Lefcoe was a 1948 graduate of the MCV School of Dentistry. As his private practice flourished, he remained philanthropically committed to the profession and to the VCU School of Dentistry. He was deeply involved in the organization and government of dentistry at local, state, national and international levels. Among his many achievements: vice president and secretary of the Norfolk Study Club of Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity; examiner at the Southern Regional Testing Agency; chairperson of the Tidewater Dental Association; and president of the Virginia Board of Dentistry.Lefcoe also was an associate clinical professor at VCU's School of Dentistry. He was a big promoter of the school's clinical simulation labs and lectured extensively through continuing education programs at a number of national dental schools.The permanently endowed Sanford L. Lefcoe Fund was established by his children. The fund is given regardless of financial need and goes to a student who has exhibited keen interest in dental research, a reminder of the continued intellectual engagement and broad-ranging gifts of this unique colleague and friend.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student who has exhibited interest in dental research

The Class of 1983 fondly remembers rolling around their "Winnebago" from clinic to clinic with their "green box" inside and operatory chair on top of the monstrous cabinet. Some were decorated with stickers and handed down from the classes before, others were sleek and contemporary. Many in the class were handy with woodwork and built their own. Regardless of the "Winnebago" itself, the memory of owning one and rolling it from Lyons Building to VCU Dental Building 1 is hard to forget. In today's world, it would be laughable, but for the Class of 1983 it was necessary. They thought there was no more iconic image of their class than this-and named their scholarship for it.Photo credit: Dr. Lawrence Kyle (D.D.S. '83).

Required Criteria:

• D2, D3 or D4 Dental student in good academic standing
• Exhibited financial need
• Recognized for promoting class camaraderie

The fund was established in the early 1980s by a bequest from the estate of Eugene Harrison. Harrison's good friend, Dr. Calvin Belkov, encouraged the donation and acted as executor for the estate.The endowment fund gives a yearly scholarship to a worthy dental student.

Required Criteria:

• Worthy dental student

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• D3 or D4 dental student
• One scholarship awarded for demonstrated leadership, formally or informally, in any aspect of his or her life to include, but not limited to, leadership within the school or associated with the profession of dentistry
• One scholarship awarded for humanitarian activities to potentially include international study, participation in the Jamaica Project or MOM project, or other international or humanitarian efforts as indicated by the student’s application.
• students selected must make every effort to attend the ICD breakfast held annually at the Virginia Dental Association meeting.

Dr. C. Robert Helsabeck attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1940. He returned to Rural Hall, N.C., after graduation and practiced general dentistry there for 56 years.Helsabeck and his wife established the scholarship in December 2007 for currently enrolled dental students in financial need. The recipients are chosen by the school administration and may be in any of the four years of dental school. When asked why he was establishing a scholarship, Helsabeck said, "Dentistry has rewarded me in many ways throughout my life. By establishing this scholarship, I can share some of those rewards with the next generation of dentists."

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in any of the four years

In 2013, Dr. Marshall P. Brownstein retired after a 40-year-long career in dental education, including 30 years at the VCU School of Dentistry. Beginning in 1975, Brownstein served as the assistant dean of admissions and student affairs as well as an associate professor of pediatric dentistry. During his lengthy tenure, he met and mentored hundreds of aspiring young dental students. And those students have not forgotten him.To honor their mentor and friend, several of Brownstein's former students joined together to create the Marshall P. Brownstein, D.D.S. Endowed Scholarship. Just as Brownstein fostered the development of budding dentists at VCU, the scholarship, which will be awarded annually, will support deserving dental students.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Demonstrated participation in student activities and involvement in assignments and group projects related to the profession of dentistry
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Student enrolled in second, third or fourth year of the dental program

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. student who has successfully completed his/her first year of dental school
• Demonstrated financial need
• Student in good standing

Willie D. Crockett was born on Sept. 17, 1920, in Tangier Island, Va. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1943 and earned his dental degree from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1947.In 1951, Crockett started a private practice but three years later returned to the School of Dentistry to teach. Crockett was on the faculty for 34 years before retiring in 1987.The fund is given to juniors based on merit and other criteria as established by the school's administration. Currently, preference is given to students intending to set up practice in Southside or Southwest Virginia.

Required Criteria:

• Currently enrolled junior year dental student
• Financial need
• Preference from a rural area
• Preference is given to students intending to set up a practice in Southside or Southwest Virginia
• Resident of Virginia

To mark their 20th reunion, the D.D.S. Classes of 1990 and 1991 created an endowed scholarship in honor of Dr. Michael V. Dishman. A 1974 graduate of the VCU School of Dentistry, Dishman began his teaching career at the school in 1990 following a time in private practice. His student-centered approach had a profoundly positive effect on the dental students. This scholarship is awarded to a dental student who exhibits the same personal characteristics the alumni admired so much in Dishman.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student known for his or her honesty and sincerity based on his or her peers' judgment
• Student known for his or her impeccable integrity in and out of clinic
• Student known for putting the interest of the patient or the school above those of himself or herself

The Virginia Dental Association has witnessed the exponential growth of dental student indebtedness and its effects on the state of current dentistry. In 2014, following years of support for dental student scholarships and with a desire to decrease the burden of student debt, the leadership of the VDA generously and graciously established an endowed scholarship at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.Virginia Dental Association Scholars are chosen from a pool of applicants who have expressed interest in practicing in Virginia and in organized dentistry. A slate of qualified candidates will be presented to the executive director of the VDA each year, and the VDA leadership will recommend their preference(s) with the school's scholarship selection committee.

Required Criteria:

• Expressed interest in organized dentistry
• Expressed interest in practicing in Virginia
• VCU dental student

As the Class of 1971 gathered to celebrate their 45-year reunion in 2016, they decided to create this scholarship in response to the crucial need to help defray the rising cost of tuition for dental students.

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. student entering their 3rd or 4th year
• Good academic standing
• Interest in practicing dentistry in Virginia after graduation

Hazel Luton retired from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2017 after 42 years of extending countless kind gestures to many of the school's students, alumni, faculty and staff. In 2015, the D.D.S. Class of 1995 (and others) surprised her by creating an endowed scholarship in her honor during their 20 year reunion.

Required Criteria:

• Commitment to community service and proven economic need
• Embody Hazel’s personality. Compassionate, great sense of humor, and well liked and admired by their classmates
• Second year D.D.S. student with a 3.5 GPA or higher

This scholarship was created in 2016 by Dr. Albert L. Payne and his wife, Sandra Dillon Payne, of Danville, Virginia. Dr. Albert Payne is a 1972 graduate of the College of William and Mary and a 1976 graduate of the Medical College of VA School of Dentistry.Following graduation, Dr. Payne returned to Danville to establish a general dentistry practice. Sandra (W&M '74) served the practice as an accounting and business administrator until her retirement in 2016. This single practitioner private practice has developed into a multi-doctor practice known as Danville Dental Associates. Dr. & Mrs. Payne's son Chris (W&M '98, VCU-SOD '03) returned to Danville in 2003 to join his father's practice.Danville Dental has established itself in the Danville-Pittsylvania County community as a practice providing exceptional dental care for people of all ages and from all socio-economic backgrounds. The practice is known for its involvement in and willingness to give back to the community as evidenced by the formation of the annual charitable event called "Give Thanks for Smiles" which offers discounted care for the community with all proceeds donated to the local food bank, God's Storehouse.Dr. Payne and Sandra created this scholarship as encouragement for dental students to return to the Western Southside Virginia area to practice after graduation.

Required Criteria:

• First preference: D.D.S. students, second preference: D.H. students
• Residents of Danville or Pittsylvania, Halifax or Henry Counties who plan to return to practice in the area after graduation. If there are no student applicants from that area, scholarship shall be made available to students who are VA residents west of U.S. Highway 501 and south of I-64 including cities and towns located on 501 and 64 provided these students plan to return to practice in the Western Southside Virginia area following graduation.

On the occasion of their 50-year class reunion, the D.D.S. Class of 1960 established an endowed scholarship to support students. As this class journeyed to the end of their careers in dentistry, they came to realize what a gift their education at the School of Dentistry had been. They decided it was time to make a gift and make their shared dream possible for those dental students following in their footsteps.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Virginia resident

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• It goes to a rising 4th year with an interest in pursuing OMFS.

The scholarship is named for Dr. William B. FitzHugh, a 1950 graduate of the MCV School of Dentistry. FitzHugh was born on Aug. 26, 1917, and died on Nov. 11, 1987. FitzHugh, a Richmond native, attended the University of Richmond where he played center on the school's football team. After he graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry, he practiced dentistry in Richmond and served on the MCV School of Dentistry faculty part-time for more than 30 years.FitzHugh was a past president of the Richmond Dental Society and the Virginia Dental Association. He was a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists and was the first recipient of the Richmond Dental Society's Harry Lyons Award.FitzHugh loved practicing dentistry and had a true passion for teaching.

Required Criteria:

• Currently enrolled first-year dental student
• Financial need
• Preference given to student who showed athletic ability at his or her undergraduate institution

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Financial need
• Student in any of the four years

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Demonstrated participation in student activities sponsored by any arm of organized dentistry, including but not limited to local dental study clubs, Richmond Dental Society, Virginia Dental Association (MOM Projects) and the American Dental Association
• Dental student in good academic standing

The fund was established in 1992 by the Richmond Dental Study Club. A yearly scholarship is given to a dental student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and participation in school and community activities and is ranked in the top 25 percent of the class during the junior year. Preference is given to a student from the Richmond, Va., metropolitan area.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated exceptional leadership and participation in school and/or community extracurricular activities by the end of the sophomore year
• Preference is given to a dental student from the Richmond, Va. metropolitan area
• Senior dental student with a junior GPA in the top 25 percent of the class

This endowment was established in 2013 to encourage and honor a student with exceptional community service in the field of dentistry. Bill Covington (D.D.S. '62) is a soft-spoken gentleman with a gracious manner, professional ease and charming smile. To his wife Jose, he's amazing. "One of the things that is most extraordinary about Bill is that he's not only given his funds to support the VCU School of Dentistry," she says. "But he's given up his time every single week for years. That's pretty amazing." For more than five decades, Bill came back to the school to mentor students and see patients. "The stimulus that students give you is just so unique. They're always asking about things that you may not have considered, or looking at something with a different slant," he says. "Contact with students gives you continuity. Expansion of your ideas. Expansion of your talents. So I guess we learn probably as much from students as they learn from us." An unexpected career choice Bill's entre into the dental field came as a surprise. Growing up on a small farm in North Carolina, he learned early on that life isn't easy. He and his family moved north to Virginia after tough circumstances led to the loss of the farm. He describes himself as growing up poor with no thought of becoming a professional at all let alone a dentist. But the Air Force changed all that. "At that time, the Korean War was dancing around and people were getting drafted. I knew I didn't want to be in the Army, so I joined the Air Force and after an aptitude test I was put with the medics and became a dental assistant." His time in the medics also included time at MCV Hospital where he worked in the emergency and recovery rooms when Air Force casualties needed to be inspected. His roles were many – from nursing to pharmacy – but his interest and aptitude in dentistry won out. Working his way through He worked his way through dental school at a time when the VCU Dental Building 1 was brand new. Some classes were also held in Hunter Hall and McGuire. His class totaled about 80 students. Memories of his dental school days in the late 50s and early 60s include being choked by a coat, affectionately known as the "Ben Casey" named for the popular television medical drama. The collar was stiff and tight when buttoned up. Casey wore his unbuttoned. Now we know why! "We all had this tunic coat and I started to get a headache. I thought I must have needed glasses, but that didn't help," he says. "Well, I thought I better change the lighting, and that didn't help either. Finally, I bought a new tunic that didn't choke me to death. See what tradition will do?" Planting the seed His motivation to support the school, Bill says, comes from two strong sources. His upbringing. And Harry Lyons, dean of the school of dentistry from 1951 to 1970. "I was poor. I worked all my life. All the way through school like many of my classmates. Dean Lyons suggested that each graduating student give $1,000 to the school at some point in our lives. He asked us to give back if we appreciated our education and the value of our time at the school. He planted the seed." From that seed grew a generous class gift presented by Bill and his classmates at their 50 th Class Reunion in 2012. That reunion set a fundraising record at the school and fulfilled Dean Lyons' wishes for his former students to give back. It also presented Bill with an unexpected honor. The ultimate surprise To celebrate her husband's 50 th reunion, Jose was faced with a dilemma. She couldn't be there and couldn't let such a milestone come and go without fanfare and meaning. If she couldn't be there herself, others could mark the occasion for her. She made arrangements for their sons Paul and Denny and VCU President Michael Rao to attend the festivities in her place. And in the ultimate display of appreciation and caring, she created a scholarship in Bill's name, which was announced by none other than Rodney the Ram. "It was a jaw dropper," Bill remembers. Helping others Bill's service to others spans more than a half century of compassionate care and student mentorship. "I never dreamed I'd be in a professional world. I started out as a farmer and believe me, those people work very hard every day," he says. "When Dad lost the farm, I didn't have a direction in particular except just to graduate from high school. I'll never forget all the people who helped me along the way. And I couldn't have done anything without Jose." {Gallery} Bill and Jose Covington

Required Criteria:

• Exceptional community service
• Financial need
• Preference given to a Va. resident
• Second-, third- or fourth-year dental student in good standing
• Stated preference for entering the General Practice of Dentistry

Because of the high cost and resulting debt burden placed upon today's dental students, the D.D.S. Class of 1985 made the decision to help deserving students with financial assistance. Newly graduating dentists face a different environment than this class did 25 years ago. They feel that any help they can provide to their future colleagues is an investment well made.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Virginia resident

Dr. Richard M. Clary and Mrs. Kathryn H. Clary established the Raymond A. Holcomb, D.D.S. Scholarship in 2013 in memory of Mrs. Clary's father.Dr. Raymond Holcomb was born poor in Richwood, W. Va., but early in life showed the tenacity that led to his successful career. In 1933, he was the W. Va. Golden Gloves Champion, boxing in the 160-pound class. He went on to be the first in his family to go to college, then came to MCV School of Dentistry, graduating in 1940 and staying on as a dental intern.He then set up his practice in Fredericksburg but in March of 1942 returned to MCV to join the 45th General Hospital for World War II. He served with the MCV unit in North Africa and Italy then transferred to the Army Air Corps where he met and married an Air Corps nurse. After the war, he brought her back to Fredericksburg where he practiced general dentistry and oral surgery for 40 years and raised two daughters. He built a wonderful practice based on hard work, surgical skills and the ability to let his patients know they were special to him.He remained a loyal alumnus of MCV, and his family is proud to honor his memory with this scholarship. May many more young dentists learn here to serve their communities as he did.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student
• Preference to students who reside in Fredericksburg, Va. or surrounding counties or who reside in W. Va.

The D.D.S. Class of 1965 banded together at their class reunion in 2010 and chose to make a commitment to support the future of dentistry. The group established the Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund for Dentistry, and, since its inception, members of the Class of 1965 have contributed generously to support the effort. The scholarship is awarded annually to a D2, D3 or D4 student in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Enrolled in second, third or fourth year of the dental program

In 1930, Dr. Preston D. Miller was a high school dropout working at a lumber company. One day a man handed him a college catalog and told him to go back to school. Miller followed the man's advice. After finishing high school, he entered Emory and Henry College for his pre-dental education. Miller graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1936.Miller began his practice, specializing in restorative dentistry. He also served his community and his alma mater as a lifelong member of the Virginia State Board of Dentistry and president-elect of the MCV Alumni Association.Miller's family established the fund in his honor in the mid-1980s. His son, Dr. Preston D. Miller Jr., graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1963, specializing in periodontics. The fund brings together the passions of father and son, rewarding a junior dental student who excels in restorative dentistry and who understands the relationship between restorative dentistry and periodontal health.

Required Criteria:

• Excels in restorative dentistry
• Junior dental student
• Understands the relationship between restorative dentistry and periodontal health

The Class of 1984 was a unique class. From the first day of class in August 1980 when we watched the clip of Tim Conway and Harvey Korman until our final graduation at River Road Baptist Church, we all knew this class was distinct. Camaraderie and friendship were the glue throughout our four years. In the summer of 1980, there were 113 of us that started a brave new adventure together. That summer was so hot in Richmond, Va. Many of us lived in the dorms near the campus, and there was no air conditioning. We started to develop friendships and bonding through mutual sufferings with the intense heat and with the rigors of Gross Anatomy. Someone organized a party that first week, and that cemented our desire to study hard and play even harder. We all got thoroughly initiated in the baptism of dental school when Gross Anatomy ended, and the full brunt of dental school hit: over 35-40 credit hours taken each semester. How did we cope with this? By going out and enjoying each other's company, playing many intramural sports together, having retreats at Hal Snyder's parent's lake home in Varina and hanging out with each other in dorm rooms, apartments and homes. As our dental school years wound down and the real world grew closer, there was a deep sense of sadness among the 105 of us that survived, that this special time was ending. A large part of our class went into the military because jobs were scarce; others specialized, and still others braved private practice immediately. There were many weddings and celebrations that first summer. Life was calling, and our new profession was now a reality. As we look back and reminisce, for a lot of us in the class of 1984, we could not have made it without each other, without helping each other in labs, in school work and in the clinic. Surviving through shared suffering and hard work was only made possible through the fellowship and bonding of our class with each other.

Required Criteria:

• Enrolled in the VCU School of Dentistry
• Financial need
• Virginia resident

This scholarship is for students with demonstrated financial need with preference given to a student from rural Southwest Va. Recipients of the scholarship will be selected by the VCU School of Dentistry scholarship committee. Dr. Ronald J. Hunt, former dean, initiated the scholarship with a personal commitment.

Required Criteria:

• Need-based
• Preference given to a student from rural Southwest Va.

Dr. J. Marvin Reynolds graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1951. Throughout his dental career, Reynolds gave more than 300 presentations to dental groups and associations, and received numerous honors. He established this fund in 2007 because "dentistry was good to this farm boy from Southwest Va.," and he wanted to do something in return.The fund will support a scholarship for a rising senior dental student who has shown outstanding promise in all areas of fixed and removable prosthodontics. The Department of Prosthodontics will select the recipient based on the student's credentials, as well as performance in didactic, laboratory and clinical areas.

Required Criteria:

• Rising senior dental student
• Shows outstanding promise in areas of fixed and removable prosthodontics
• Succeeded in clinical, didactic and laboratory areas

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Preference given to a New York state resident (or one who originates from New York state) who has maintained a 3.0 GPA or better and who is passionate about pursuing a career in pediatric dentistry
• Rising fourth-year dental student who demonstrates financial need

Dr. Matt Dollar graduated from the VCU School of Dentistry in 1998. Tragically, he passed away in 2007 from complications following a motorcycle accident. During their 15 year class reunion in 2013, the DDS Class of 1998 created a scholarship in Dollar's memory.

Required Criteria:

• Academically in good standing
• D.D.S. student who demonstrates financial need
• Embodies the characteristics of the late Dr. Matt Dollar: outgoing, charismatic, devotion to community service

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Rising D4 student with excellent clinical skills who exhibits a desire to truly care for their patients as observed through their clinical practices.
• Rising DH4 student with excellent clinical skills who exhibits a desire to truly care for their patients as observed through their clinical practices.

The D.D.S. Class of 1966 created this scholarship as they celebrated their 50 year reunion in the spring of 2016. The purpose of this scholarship is to recognize and reward a member of the D4 class who has greatly improved their grades and their skills by moving from the lower half of their class and rising to the upper half of their class.

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. student entering their fourth year
• Demonstrated financial need
• Has shown a strong personal effort to be self-sustaining
• Recipient should have demonstrated significant improvement in his/her dental education

This endowment was established in 1981 by the family of Oliver Wendell Clough. When asked why she started this fund, Clough's wife, Marion Handy Clough, explained that "the dental school was and is so much a part of our family's life."The endowment provides a yearly scholarship to a senior who shows great promise for outstanding contribution as a general dentist in the field of restorative dentistry.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrates outstanding contribution as a general dentist in the field of restorative dentistry
• Graduating dental student

Dr. Ron Tankersley did not always know he wanted to be a dentist. In fact he started out as a pre-med and psychology major. But, with some help from mentors Dr. Harry Lyons (D.D.S. '23) and Dr. S. Elmer Bear, Tankersley found his niche in dentistry as a student at the MCV School of Dentistry.Tankersley made an extraordinary commitment to the dental profession and served as the president of the American Dental Association from 2009 to 2010. During his tenure, he educated members of the ADA and others in the dental field about health care reform and pushed for dentistry for the underserved while focusing on collaboration between the various organizations within the field of dentistry.To recognize Tankersley's outstanding leadership within the ADA and the dental profession, the Virginia Dental Association and other close supporters established a scholarship in his honor.The Ronald L. Tankersley, D.D.S. Leadership Scholarship will be awarded to a dental student (or students) who demonstrates innovative, motivational leadership that influences his/her academic, professional or community environments. The recipient, chosen by the dean or a designee, will have exhibited excellent leadership skills while in dental school to include fostering a sense of teamwork and building enthusiasm for group projects and assignments, setting a good example through positive work habits, contributing creative ideas and suggestions to help people solve problems and exhibiting a high ethical standard of conduct.

Required Criteria:

• Exhibited excellent leadership skills while in dental school
• Rising senior dental student

Content to come..... 

Required Criteria:

• D2, D3 or D4
• Demonstrated financial need
• Good academic standing

Dr. Jack Thompson, Jr. developed a desire to become a dentist because of his grandfather (who was a dentist). He always enjoyed working with his hands so after graduating from the University of Richmond, he enrolled in the MCV School of Dentistry. After completing a residency program in the U.S. Air Force, he decided to set up a solo practice in the rural community of Gordonsville. He enjoyed providing "a little bit of every type" of dentistry to this community. His son (Jack "Jay" Thompson III, D.D.S. '97) grew up watching his father practice rural dentistry and decided to follow in his footsteps by also serving in the military (in his case, the Army) and also joining his father's practice. He decided not to specialize and took over his father's practice in 2007. Thompson, Jr. retired from chair side dentistry in 2018 after practicing for 50 years. This scholarship was created in 2018 as a way to help perpetuate future dentists who have the desire to practice in a rural setting.Mrs. Margaret Thompson had already earned a B.S. in chemistry and did not work in that field until after their youngest of their three children was in school. Jack had a hard time finding a hygienist for his practice so Margaret decided (at the age of 40) to enroll in the VCU Dental hygiene program. She enjoyed being her husband's dental hygienist for 32 years.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Preference shall be given to students who are interested in practicing general dentistry in a rural Virginia area and who have participated in the Missions of Mercy (MOM) program.
• Rising D2 or D3 dentistry students eligible to pay in-state Virginia tuition

This scholarship will recognize the qualities in a dental student that Dr. Levicki brought to Delta Dental of Virginia over his long career there and at the Foundation. It will be given to a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year dental student who is a resident of Virginia who demonstrates leadership qualities both in the school and outside and is a person of high integrity and has a strong interest in persons with limited access to dental care.

Required Criteria:

• 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year dental student
• a person of high integrity
• demonstrates leadership qualities both in the school and outside
• has a strong interest in persons with limited access to dental care
• resident of Virginia

On the occasion of their 45th reunion, the D.D.S. Class of 1968 established a scholarship in memory of 12 departed classmates. These friends and colleagues are sorely missed.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in good standing
• Exhibits financial need

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Available to dental students (not DH)
• Preference given to dental students from Virginia or West Virginia
• Students in the School of Dentistry

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in good standing
• Exhibits financial need

Dr. Alexander Kaufman was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Jan. 18, 1912. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1930. He continued his education at the MCV School of Dentistry, graduating in 1934. He met and married his wife, Alexandra David, while studying at MCV.When World War II broke out, Kaufman served with the U.S. Army Dental Corps. After the war, he joined the Army Reserves and served for 30 years, retiring with the rank of colonel. At the same time, he set up his dental practice in Richmond, Va., where he remained for the next 26 years. He and his wife raised four daughters, all of whom, coincidentally, married VCU School of Dentistry graduates.Kaufman later relocated to Fla., where he set up a new practice with one of his sons-in-law and worked for 20 more years. He practiced dentistry for a total of 46 years.In 1992, four years before his death at the age of 84, Kaufman's daughters and their husbands created this scholarship to honor his dedication to excellence in dentistry and to applaud a conscientious, hard-working and gifted dentist.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student with financial need

The DDS Class of 1975 created this scholarship in 2015 while celebrating their 40-year class reunion. Class members recognized the need to assist future students with rising tuition costs.

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. student
• Proven need for economic assistance
• Virginia resident (defined as students eligible to pay in-state tuition)

To honor his parents for their unwavering support of him throughout this life, and most particularly during dental school and his orthodontics residency, Dr. Zachary Casagrande (D.D.S. '04, M.S. '06) created the Paul and Marley Casagrande Dental Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is awarded to a first or second year dental student in good standing who is a Virginia resident.

Required Criteria:

• Currently enrolled first or second year dental student
• Good academic standing
• Virginia resident

The D.D.S. Class of 1978 established this scholarship in honor of its 35-year reunion. With the rising cost of dental education, it is their hope that this scholarship will help offset the financial burden for a deserving student who also has demonstrated a commitment to community service.

Required Criteria:

• Current dental student
• Demonstrated commitment to community service
• Economic need
• GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Virginia resident

On the occasion of their 45 year reunion, the D.D.S. Class of 1970 established a scholarship in memory of seven departed classmates. These friends and colleagues are deeply missed.

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. Student
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Member of the A.S.D.A.
• Preference: A student who has experienced life changes while in school which created economic hardship (ie death of a parent, spouse, child or loss of other financial support).
• Preference: U.S. citizen or legal permanent U.S. resident with high ethics, outstanding character and integrity and a proven economic need.
• Rising 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year

The D.D.S. Class of 1990 created this fund during their 25-year reunion to help assist current and future students with the rising costs of dental school tuition.

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. students entering their 3rd year
• GPA of at least 3.4
• Preference: Virginia residents (those eligible to pay in-state Virginia tuition)
• Proven commitment to community service

Dr. Mark Barban was born Nov. 16, 1953, in Cape Charles, Va. He died on Sept. 30, 2002, after a courageous battle with cancer. Barban graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1977, the VCU School of Pharmacy in 1979 and the VCU School of Dentistry in 1985.In addition to his dental practice, which he maintained from graduation until his death, Barban was active with the Richmond Dental Society, serving on numerous committees as well as the board of directors. He was a founding member of the Midlothian Study Club and a member of the Appolonia Dental Study Club.Barban was active as a clinical instructor at the VCU School of Dentistry and provided charitable dental services through Missions of Mercy, Donated Dental Services, CARITAS and other organizations. Despite various professional commitments, Barban found time to hunt and fish as well as participate in Indian Guides, sponsor and coach Chesterfield Little League and earn his black belt in taekwondo. Those who knew him remember his quick wit, depth of character, strong intellect and dedication to his friends.The fund was created after Barban's dental classmates, family friends and others responded to an initial anonymous challenge gift. The original donation sought to honor a good friend and dentist. In order to memorialize Barban's strength of character and uncompromising ethics, the school awards this scholarship to dental students who display these attributes, who are in good academic standing and who are on a proven path of success.

Required Criteria:

• A dental student who may be considered a person of outstanding character
• A dental student who possesses high ethical standards
• Good standing and on the proven path of success
• Preference first given to a dental student from the Eastern Shore of Virginia
• Secondary preference given to dental students with a background in pharmacy

After learning of the increasing costs of dental school and the average debt students face upon graduating, the D.D.S. Class of 1995 wanted to do their part to support the next generation of dentists. On their 15-year anniversary of graduation, members of the class thought this was an appropriate time to make personal, multi-year commitments to establish a scholarship.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in good academic standing
• Enrolled in the second or third year of the dental program
• Virginia resident

Dr. Harry Lyons, dean emeritus of the VCU School of Dentistry, established a scholarship in his name in 1988. The award goes to the graduating dental student with the highest GPA.

Required Criteria:

• Graduating dental student
• Highest GPA in graduating class

As a young child, Dr. Herb M. Hughes, remembers visiting his grandfather's home/dental office and exploring the dental equipment. He was intrigued with the old fashion foot pedal drill and the barber/dental chair. Fast forward to high school he worked at his father's orthodontic office pouring up models, cleaning instruments and developing x-rays. It was then that he decided that he wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. They say that life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away. The day he received his acceptance letter from MCV/VCU school of dentistry was one of those moments. Dental school was demanding and required most of his time, but after catching the eye of a cute dental hygiene student by the name of Tammy, he quickly reprioritized his time in order to pursue his new love. One might say this is when the magic began! Immediately after they graduated from dental and dental hygiene school the wedding bells rang and the newlywed couple headed to Boston where Dr. Hughes would attend his orthodontic residency. The day he joined his father in practice was another one of those magical moments because another dream had come true. Several years into his practice, Dr. Hughes was inspired to acquire another unique skill: the art of magic! He became a self-taught magician and he would display his newly found talent with his patients. As his illusions got bigger and better he would showcase them at elementary schools and charitable events. When asked if he would present his orthodontic cases to his fellow colleagues, he gladly accepted knowing full well that he was going to secretly incorporate his illusions into his presentations. Just like his father had given him the opportunity to observe him in practice, Dr. Hughes employed his son, Justin, to pour models, take x-rays and sterilize instruments. He vividly remembers driving Justin back to Wake Forest after their Christmas break in his junior year and during a casual conversation he asked Justin what he planned to do after he graduated from college and to his surprise he said, "I want to go to dental school." Yes, that was another moment that took his breath away. Dr. Justin attended MCV/VCU dental school and became the fourth-generation dentist in our family! After completing his orthodontic residency, he joined Hughes Orthodontics and now he has taken ownership of the business. The baton has been pasted to the next generation. Stay tuned for the rest of the story… Establishing a legacy scholarship fund is our way to help ensure that our profession will be led by caring individuals who are passionate about preserving our great profession. Passing it forward so that the next generation will thrive!

Required Criteria:

• 3rd or 4th year dental student
• High moral/ethical values
• Membership in organized dentistry/volunteer MOM projects
• Possesses balanced lifestyle--mind/body/spirit
• Preference to a legacy: child/grandchild of dentist, dental specialist/hygienist

Dr. Nick H. Wang was born on March 15, 1976. He earned a D.M.D. degree from the University of Connecticut, a M.D. degree from the University of Texas (San Antonio) and finally completed his oral maxillofacial surgery residency from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2012. After a courageous battle with cancer, he passed away on February 10, 2017. Dr. Wang was known in the community for his generosity, kindness, and dedication to his patients. He put others before himself, and was a strong believer in "giving back". In that spirit, this fund was created by his widow, Dr. Alice Wang to help defray the cost of tuition for future D.D.S. students who are interested in pursuing a career in oral surgery.

Required Criteria:

• Has demonstrated an interest in oral surgery
• Preference shall be given to a student who exhibits great leadership skills and has a commitment to community service
• Rising 4th year D.D.S. student

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Levin established this scholarship in honor of their sons, Mark and Jay, and their families in order that a worthy student will become a dentist in the fine traditions of the dental profession.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrates financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Enrolled in the second, third or fourth year of the dental program
• Resident of Virginia

The term "family affair" is no understatement when it comes to the Kellihers from Fairfax, Va., where six of seven children followed their father, Jeremiah, into the dental profession. Three are alumni of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Dentistry.Drs. Dan Kelliher (D.D.S. '84), Jerry Kelliher Jr. (D.D.S. '85) and Sean Kelliher (D.D.S. '02) practice alongside sisters Karen and Kathleen, dental hygienists, at Kelliher Family Dentists in Springfield, Va. Mother Rita is the practice manager. Another sister, Coleen, is a dental hygienist in Fredericksburg, Va., and their brother Jimmy opted for a career in insurance.Honoring their father's inspiration, Dan, Jerry and Sean decided to create a scholarship in his name. They turned to the VCU School of Dentistry because their dad became an alumnus without a home after the closure of Georgetown University's dental school in 1990. The brothers established the Jeremiah J. Kelliher Sr., D.D.S. Scholarship in 2011 with a pledge of $25,000 and presented their father with a framed letter announcing the scholarship at a family gathering during the Christmas holidays.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Enrolled in the second, third or fourth year of the dental program
• Resident of Virginia

Richard and Linda Taliaferro of Winchester, Va. created this scholarship in 2017.Richard earned his D.D.S. degree from the VCU School of Dentistry in 1983. Linda is a former elementary school teacher and a current "English as a Second Language" teacher. Both Taliaferros recognize the importance of educators in the academic arena. They created this scholarship to help fund education for a future dental school educator and/or researcher.

Required Criteria:

• DDS student or DH student
• Demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in either academic dentistry or research in the dental field
• Financial need

Bill grew up in Keysville, Virginia in a family of all boys-3 brothers and 2 cousins. He attended school there, and was active in sports, playing tennis and high school varsity football, baseball and basketball. He graduated from William and Mary with a B.A. in History. After graduating, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, went through Basic Training and Officer Candidate School and was sent to Korea as a platoon leader. Bill was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and bravery in action. Upon his discharge from the Marines, he decided to go to Dental School. He enrolled in Longwood College to take the science classes he would need to be accepted in Dental School. As a History major at William and Mary, he was not required to take many science classes, Trying to fit in all the prerequisites required for admission to MCV in as short a span as possible, he ended up taking Organic chemistry before General Chemistry. He was successful and gained admission in the Dental College at MCV and graduated in the class of 1959. Bill opened his dental office in Chincoteague, Virginia, the first step in following his lifelong love for the sea and boating. One particularly embarrassing moment for him was being rescued by the Coast Guard after going aground and spending the night in full view of the whole town. There were many laughs over the Coast Guard's rescue of the "new Doc"! Bill felt he greatly expanded his dental education in Chincoteague as he was the only dentist with no specialists! After taking a winter vacation to the Bahamas, he decided to move his practice to the Bahamas where he could enjoy boating and summer weather all year. He wrote to Nassau and was quickly granted a license to practice on Freeport, Grand Bahama and we were off to the Bahamas. After 6+ years and many changes in the Bahamas, he decided that it was time to come home to the US again. He took the Florida Boards and we began looking at the east coast of Florida. We ended up in Stuart for the final stop in his dental career. He loved his many patients and it was mutual. Many followed him from Virginia and Bahamas to Florida, even consulting him after he retired. Bill remained an active boater going from power boats (or stink pots as he called them) to sailboats. We spent many vacations cruising the Bahamas, especially the Abacos. He filled his leisure time in Stuart with tennis and golf. He suffered a serious bout with Melanoma, which started on the top of his head. His advice to all-"wear hats instead of visors when out in the sun!" After beating the Melanoma, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and as that progressed he had to retire from his dental practice, followed by boating and tennis. He continued playing golf with his 2 sons and a grandson. In spite of his medical problems, he kept his sense of humor and quick wit-he could always surprise you with a one line zinger! Bill celebrated his 86th birthday in January 2016 with all of his family and many friends with him. He led a full and happy life due to his profession, its flexibility, and his family, his wife of 62 years, 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. The Memorial Fund was established in his honor by his brother/cousin W.E. Singleton to aid future young men and women in following their dreams as he did.

Required Criteria:

• Student(s) in the VCU School of Dentistry

The D.D.S. Class of 1979 created this scholarship during its 35 year reunion celebration in 2014. Their goal is to help offset the cost of tuition for an exceptional dental student.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in any of the four years
• Financial need
• Understanding the importance of community and the gift of philanthropy in giving back to those in need of assistance with dental education. The individual should have a commitment to the furthering of the dental profession in community service as well as to supporting the education of future dental professionals.

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in any of the four years
• Financial need
• Preference given to North Carolina students

The D.D.S. Class of 2007 established a student scholarship in honor of Francis J. Robertello, D.M.D., M.S., M.Ed. They wished to recognize him for his outstanding teaching of operative dentistry in the laboratory, classroom and clinic.Robertello taught their class and many others the foundations of the practice of excellent and predictable restorative dentistry, and he taught these things with compassion and without ego. While dental school is always a challenge, his students always knew where they stood with Robertello, and they knew they could have fun with him while working towards an excellent result either in the lab or in the clinic. He genuinely enjoyed his interactions with the students, and they genuinely enjoyed their interactions with him. He always inspired his students to be better.Robertello is truly beloved in the D.D.S. Class of 2007's memories of dental school, and he remains with them in the fundamental skills he taught them as they practice dentistry every day.The student who is awarded the Dr. Francis J. Robertello Scholarship Endowment will have shown excellent skills in the clinical practice of operative dentistry.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in good academic standing
• Excellent skill in operative dentistry

Dr. Thang Pham and his wife Dr. Nu Dang left war-torn Vietnam in 1979 by crossing into Cambodia and then into Thailand. It was a journey made on foot, through forests and across battlefields, through a foreign land fraught with danger. There was no easy escape from Vietnam and many who tried did not make it. This included Pham's younger sister, Phạm thị Minh-Tuyền. She was 22 years old. It was in Cambodia that Pham and Dang befriended Dr. Kyle Coble, who was a volunteer dentist with the American Refugee Committee working in refugee camps near the border of Thailand. Pham and Dang created this scholarship in 2017 in honor of Dr. Coble, whose friendship helped them reach freedom, and in memory of Phạm thị Minh-Tuyền, whose sacrifice reminds them of its cost.Pham and Dang were the first of 10 family members to graduate from VCU (most from the School of Dentistry).

Required Criteria:

• D.D.S. student who demonstrates extreme financial need
• Good academic standing
• Preference given to a student with dependents

Dr. Harold P. Heafner Jr. (D.D.S. Class of 1957) and his wife Beverly established this scholarship in 2019.Heafner was born and raised in Portsmouth, Va. where he practiced for 38 years. Heafner was influenced to create this scholarship by two of his classmates. Dr. Calvin Belkov created a scholarship at the dental school in memory of his parents, and Dr. Joe Adair has also been very generous with the school. Heafner is proud to follow their examples by creating this fund to help future students of their beloved dental school alma mater.Following their 60-year class reunion in 2017, Heafner, Adair and their other classmates decided not to wait for five years for their next reunion. They have started a new tradition of gathering annually at every reunion.

Required Criteria:

• A worthy student in need of financial help.
• D.D.S. candidate during their 3rd or 4th year.
• Preference should be given to a resident of Virginia.

Dr. Alden S. Anderson Jr. demonstrated an unselfish and giving spirit throughout his lifetime – an example of which was his desire to aid dental students with financial need.A graduate of Washington and Lee University, Anderson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II for almost four years prior to his enrollment in the Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry. After graduating from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1954, he entered private practice in Staunton, Va.A respected member of the community, Anderson practiced dentistry in Staunton for almost 40 years. He provided dental care for children at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton on a weekly basis for 19 years.Anderson and his wife, Sara, modeled a lifetime of benevolence and gave of their time and money to support many worthy causes and ministries, including their church (First Presbyterian in Staunton), the Haitian Children's School Fund, the Isaac Walton League and the Civic Club to name a few.During his dental school years, Anderson and his wife both worked tirelessly at jobs to meet their educational costs while also attending classes and starting a family. Anderson hoped that his financial gift would benefit married dental students and lessen the burden of their educational expenses.

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in any of the four years
• Students with one or more dependents.

Dr. Warren Sachs and his wife, Karen, established this fund in honor of their friend, Dr. Sanford Lefcoe.Sachs, a 1971 graduate of the VCU School of Dentistry, and his wife created this scholarship to honor the significant career of Lefcoe, an active and important member of the school and the dentistry profession.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in any class year

Dr. F.B. Wiebusch taught for 30 years at the VCU School of Dentistry, where he was chair of the Department of Periodontics and assistant dean for continuing education and alumni affairs.Dr. Llewellyn Flippen, a 1958 graduate of the MCV School of Dentistry, established the fund in 2000 to honor Wiebusch, who retired from the school faculty in the early 1990s.The periodontics faculty chooses the recipient of this annual award based on the student's successful completion of all degree requirements, the demonstration of strong academic achievement and concern for patients. In addition, the scholarship winner must possess high moral and ethical standards.

Required Criteria:

• Completed all degree requirements
• Demonstrated concern for the best interest of patients
• Demonstrated strong academic achievement
• Deserving, graduating dental student from the school’s undergraduate program in periodontics
• High moral and ethical standards

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Dental student in any of the four years
• Financial need
• Student who has demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in either academic dentistry or research in the dental field

This fund was established in 2008 to honor Dr. Edwin F. Irish, a 1953 graduate of the MCV School of Dentistry, and his wife, Marjorie B. Irish. The fund provides support for currently enrolled students at the VCU School of Dentistry who have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship recipient or recipients can be in any year of study and will be selected by the school's administration.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in any of the four years

This scholarship was established to honor Dr. Albert L. Huband Jr. and his wife, Jean Edmiston Huband. Both were natives of Chesterfield County, Va. Prior to entering dental school, Huband taught math and science in King and Queen County, Va. He graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1956 and served in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps and Virginia Department of Health prior to establishing his private practice on the Southside of Richmond, Va. in 1960.Huband had a passion in caring for patients and was especially happy and enthusiastic when educating future dentists and dental auxiliaries. This joy was demonstrated throughout his 28 years of continuous service to the school as an adjunct faculty member in the departments of Restorative Dentistry and General Practice from 1970 until his death in 1998. Huband often recognized that Jean's support allowed him to pursue his love of dentistry.

Required Criteria:

• Documented financial need
• Good academic standing
• Preference given to natives of Chesterfield County
• Preference given to persons returning to school for a second career
• Preference given to previous teachers
• Rising sophomore dental student

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Dental or dental hygiene student in any class year
• High academic achievement
• Potential for future service to dentistry
• Strength of character

Content to come...

Required Criteria:

• Dental student who is engaged in scholarly research related to addiction, including dental management of patients with substance use disorders, pain management in dentistry, and enhancing the knowledge and understanding of addiction/substance use disorder.
• Dental student in any class year

This scholarship shall be awarded to a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year dental student with demonstrated financial need. Preference shall be given to a student with dependents.

Required Criteria:

• 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year dental student
• demonstrated financial need

When Denise T. Nguyen (D.D.S.'92) and her family left Vietnam after the war ended, their boat landed in Malaysia. It was 1978. Her aunt and uncle sponsored them to Virginia after leaving Saigon in 1975. Though it was a welcome family reunion, she says, the adjustment was difficult. Pizza Hut and french fries helped her and her sisters, who at the time were 15, 13, and 9 years old. She was 11. "It wasn't quite an adventure, but not as horrendous as other boat people endured. We were lucky," she says. "I don't eat pizza anymore." Her journey to dentistry stemmed from a need to be different. "Most of my family were engineers and I wanted to do something different. My peers majored in biology and chemistry. I'm very competitive and didn't think I could beat them, so I majored in music. To be different." But dentistry had always been her passion. "I still play piano," she says. "But I'm glad I followed my passion." Today, she is winding down her career in orthodontics and watching her youngest daughter follow her own interest in dentistry. "I am at the end of my career and wanted to do something special. All good students deserve some type of scholarship to boost their morale. There's not enough to go around. When we came to America we didn't have anything. During my undergraduate days at the University of Virginia, I had a Pell Grant and loans. That's another reason I wanted to create a scholarship, so students won't owe so much once they graduate."

Required Criteria:

• Dental student
• Grade point average of 3.5 or better
• Volunteers or participates in activities related to the profession of dentistry outside of dental school

Drs. Bradford Allen and Scott Henson graduated from the VCU School of Dentistry in 2006. The two challenged their fellow classmates to establish a fund to continue to make the school a better place.The fund was established in 2006 and is awarded annually to a rising fourth-year dental student. A committee of fourth-year class officers and four faculty members select the recipient based on demonstrated qualities of initiative, thoughtfulness and kindness toward classmates. The student also must possess motivation to improve student well-being at the school and, ideally, has volunteered for projects or events that have benefited the class as a whole.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated qualities of initiative, thoughfulness and kindness towards classmates
• Must possess motivation to improve student well-being at the VCU School of Dentistry
• Rising fourth-year dental student
• Student should display an exceptional level of commitment to the class, often when not asked by other class members
• Student should have volunteered for projects/events that have benefited the class as a whole, such as but not limited to, study groups or clubs, CE certification classes, class fundraisers, skit night, lab representative, the organization of class volunteer projects or intramural recreation and other tasks
• Student should show a dedication to the improvement of the VCU School of Dentistry for future students

Dr. Millie (Kolb) Tannen established this scholarship in 2013 in loving memory of her parents, Dr. Herbert Robert and Lottie Schwartz Kolb. Kolb was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1921. He earned his bachelor's degree from Long Island University in 1941 and graduated from Temple University School of Dentistry in 1945. He served as a captain in the United States Army and was employed by the Veterans' Administration for 35 years, first as a general dentist and then later as a prosthodontist following his postgraduate training in 1962. Kolb served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Prosthodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University for 29 years.He was happily married for 64 years to Lottie Schwartz, who was born in Monticello, N.Y. in 1923 and, after graduating two years early from high school, became a legal secretary in Manhattan. They were devoted parents to Tannen and her sister, Claudia K. Zaritsky, and loving grandparents to their four grandchildren.This scholarship is awarded annually to a rising senior dental student who has demonstrated excellence in prosthodontics. Tannen hopes this financial gift will benefit qualifying dental students by supplementing their educational expenses.

Required Criteria:

• Exceptional academic merit
• Rising fourth-year dental student
• Shown interest in or exceptional abilities in prosthodontics

Dr. Thomas Parker Freeman went to Wake Forest University and graduated from the MCV School of Dentistry in 1948. He practiced dentistry for four years in Raleigh, N.C., before joining the U.S. Army and serving his country in Japan, Germany and Korea. While in the Army, Freeman developed a preventive dentistry program that led to his promotion to a full colonel.In honor of Freeman, his family established the fund in 2007. Its purpose is to provide support for VCU School of Dentistry students who have demonstrated financial need. The school administration will choose the recipient, who may be in any year of dental school.

Required Criteria:

• Demonstrated financial need
• Dental student in any of the four years