2026 Predoctoral Convocation Awards Ceremony
The University of Texas at San Antonio School of Dentistry hosted its annual Predoctoral Convocation Awards Ceremony in early April, celebrating the achievements of predoctoral dental students who demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, service and academic excellence throughout the academic year.
The ceremony was emceed by Lea Hachem, DDS, MS, FICD, assistant dean for student affairs, and opened with welcoming remarks recognizing the accomplishments of the students and marking the conclusion of another successful academic year. During the formal program, award presenters highlighted the purpose and significance of each honor as students were recognized for their achievements.
Celebrating Faculty Excellence
On behalf of their respective classes, student leaders bestowed the honor of Professor of the Year on distinguished faculty members.
Roshan Patel, junior (DS3) class president, presented Narayanan Sreenivasan, DDS, MDS, BDS, associate professor/clinical and director of the predoctoral oral and maxillofacial surgery, with the Junior Class Professor of the Year award. Patel commended Sreenivasan for shaping students’ understanding of oral surgery and creating an engaging learning environment that balanced high expectations with humor, leaving a lasting impact on students’ clinical development.
Joe Zyadeh, sophomore (DS2) class vice president, also recognized Sreenivasan as the Sophomore Class Professor of the Year. Zyadeh highlighted Sreenivasan’s passion for teaching, ability to connect foundational science to clinical relevance and compassion in supporting students’ learning.
Valerie Ulloa, freshman (DS1) class president, presented Haley Nation, PhD, associate professor/clinical, with the Freshman Class Professor of the Year award. Ulloa praised Nation for her unwavering commitment to student success, her ability to adapt to different learning styles and her dedication to fostering a deep understanding of complex concepts.
Honors, Awards and Scholarships
- OKU Kramer Award: Madison Faith Haager
- OKU Mu Nu Memorial Award: Chandler Blake Messer
- OKU Mu Nu Outstanding Achievement in Academics: Kate Aleese McNeill
- OKU Mu Nu Outstanding Achievement in Research: Josue Murillo
- OKU Mu Nu Outstanding Achievement in Service: Christopher Carruth
- The UT San Antonio Ambassador Scholarship: Natalie Paige Pfluger
- Edward G. Rennels and Vick Williams Award: Hunter James Morrill
- Charlotte Greenwood was recognized as the recipient of the SCADA (Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application) award, earning the opportunity to represent the school at the AADOCR Annual Meeting in San Diego.
- Arthur T. Storey Scholar’s Award: Arabellah Hope Lozano
- Carus Dental Scholarship: Marysol Canales-Weigend
- Richard H. Carr, Jr., DDS Endowed Scholarship: Mimi Chang and Reyna Susana Palma
- Maria Yeung Student Research Award: Chandler Blake Messer
- The Alliance of Texas Dental Association Endowed Scholarships: Jenna Eisel and James Gilman
- Orthodontics Division Clinical Excellence & Commitment Award: Chandler Blake Messer
- Dr. M. Ray Scott, Jr., Student Leadership Award: Raghdah Abduljabbar
Clinical Excellence and Leadership
The Junior Clinic Award for Excellence in Clinical Dentistry recognized top performers in patient care across teams:
- Team A: David Thomas Abbott and James Gilman
- Team B: Caleb Isaiah Gonzalez and Jayden Edward Webb
- Team C: Peter Edward Ibrahim Abdlemalik and Johnny Lenis
- Team D: Vanessa Paola Moran and Reyna Susana Palma
Congratulations to all awardees for their outstanding achievements and continued commitment to excellence in dentistry!