Graduation 2012

The 41st commencement ceremony of the LSUHSC School of Dentistry was held on May 17, 2012. this year 59 dentists, 34 dental hygienists and nine dental laboratory technologists received their degrees.

Thirty-five of the new DDS graduates will remain in Louisiana to enter private practice. Another seven will begin advanced education programs in the state—six at LSUSD and one in Shreveport. Ten graduates will enter private practice in other states, three will join advanced education programs in Alabama and Tennessee, and one graduate will enter the Navy.

Nicole Thieler accepts the Chancellor's Award for Dentistry from Dean Gremillion

In his speech at Recognition Day on the previous afternoon, Stuart Huntsman, president of the Student Government Association, spoke these perceptive words, "It's amazing to think how much we have all learned and improved in our respective fields. It's also amazing to think how much we have yet to learn. As we have so often been reminded—you are always a student, you never stop learning."

If LSUSD has instilled the lesson of lifelong learning in its graduates, the school has succeeded in its mission. Dentistry is a profession of responsibility and LSUSD owes its patients the best possible care.

Click here to view the list of graduates

Graduation Honors
During Recognition Day, a total of 108 awards were presented to high-achieving students. The top students in each program received the Dean's and Chancellor's Awards.

Dean's Award:
Sunny Russell, Dental Laboratory Technology
Blair Ducote, Dental Hygiene
Mohammed Ismail, DDS

Chancellor's Award:
Vial LeBlanc III, Dental Laboratory Technology
Jordan Denaille, Dental Hygiene (presented in Lafayette, no photo available)
Nicole Thieler, DDS

 

Dean Gremillion presents the Chancellor's Award for DLT to Vial LeBlanc III

Click here for to view the full list of student award recipients

Faculty Teaching Awards:
In addition to student awards, faculty members were presented with Golden Apple Teaching Awards. Each graduating class selected an instructor to receive the teaching excellence award:
Dental Laboratory Technology:
David Vela, BS, CDT, associate professor, Prosthodontics
Dental Hygiene:
Eliska Davis, RDH, MRC, assistant professor, Program in Dental Hygiene
Fourth-Year Dentistry:
Dr. Robert Brannon, DDS, MSD, professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology.
Dr. Brannon is also the 2012 School of Dentistry recipient of the LSUHSC Allen A. Copping Award for Excellence in Teaching.