Celebrating excellence: UT Health San Antonio Dental Hygiene Senior Awards and Pinning Ceremony 2025
The UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry’s Dental Hygiene Class of 2025 gathered with faculty, friends and family on May 16 to celebrate their hard work and academic achievement during the annual Senior Awards Dinner and Pinning Ceremony.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Dental Hygiene Program Director Magda A. de la Torre, RDH, MPH, and an invocation led by Dental Hygiene Co-Director Professor Veronica Ledesma, MSDH, RDH. It was an evening filled with emotion, pride and recognition as students were honored for their academic excellence, community service, clinical skill, leadership and professional dedication.
Scholarship Awards
Director de la Torre announced recipients of several prestigious scholarships that support dental hygiene students in their academic journeys:
- Baptist Health Foundation Scholarship
Crystal Sevier, Crystal Cortez, Briana Villanueva (Junior Year) - Dental Partners Kim Flowers Scholarship
Sophia Sharpe - Texas Dental Placement Network Scholarship (TDHA)
Jacquelynn Destiny Hill - Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Scholarship
Israel Gudino - Jeannette Rankin Scholarship
Fabiola Luevano
Academic Honors Cords Presentation
Director de la Torre recognized students graduating with Latin honors, a distinction awarded to students who achieve high academic excellence during their undergraduate studies. These are typically based on grade point average.
- Cum Laude Bronze Cord (GPA 3.5–3.69)
Imam Abdallah, Casey Akimoto, Sundos Omar, Raquel Perez, Crystal Cortez - Magna Cum Laude Silver Cord (GPA 3.7–3.89)
Crystal Sevier, Julie Contreras, Jenny Aponte, Brenda Tamayo Hernandez,
Fabiola Luevano, Yessenia Aguilar, Katherine Lee Quintanilla,
Tierra Bolin, Sophia Sharpe, Mai Phuong Nguyen - Summa Cum Laude Gold Cord (GPA 3.9–4.0)
Mayra Bustamante, Brianna Villanueva
Sigma Phi Alpha Inductions
The national dental hygiene honor society, Sigma Phi Alpha, welcomed students from the graduating class and select faculty who had demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, initiative and a desire for service and teamwork. The sashes and certificates were presented by Sigma Phi Alpha faculty officers and members: Kara Robinson, president; Virginia Carrillo and Magda de la Torre, members.
- Student Inductees:
Mayra Bustamante, Brianna Villanueva - Honorary Member:
Dr. Narayanan Screenivasan - Faculty Inductee:
Veronica Loera Ledesma
Student Achievement & Professionalism Awards
Faculty members presented awards to students who demonstrated excellence in academics and key areas of the dental hygiene profession:
- Community Dentistry Award
Raquel Margarita Perez - Procter & Gamble Preventive Dentistry Award
Brianna Caballero Villanueva - Colgate STAR Award
Crystal Ayala Cortez - Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award
Yesenia Aguilar - Taline Dadian Infante, EdD, RDH Award
Fabiola Luevano - Dr. Juanita Wallace Award
Brenda Tamayo Hernandez - Dr. Bill Curtis Scholarship
Mayra Bustamante, Imam Abdallah - Charlie Morris Award
Fabiola Luevano - Outstanding Leadership Award
Sophia Sharpe - Hu-Friedy Outstanding Clinician: Golden Scaler Award
Mai Hannah Nguyen - Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (SCADA) appreciation
Outgoing officers:
President: Sophia Sharpe, Vice President: Israel Gudino, Treasurers: Raquel Perez and Crystal Cortez, Historian San Antonio Campus: Sundos Omar (Sunni), Historian Laredo Campus: April Delgado, Ways & Means Committee Chair- Jacquelynn Hill - Computer Whisperer Award
Kim My Nguyen - Frances P. Plunkett Scholarship
Mai Phuong Nguyen, Tierra Bolin
Student Leadership Recognition
The outgoing student officers of the Student Chapter of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association were also recognized for their service:
- President: Sophia Sharpe
- Vice President: Israel Gudino
- Treasurers: Raquel Perez, Crystal Cortez
- Historians: Sundos Omar (San Antonio), April Delgado (Laredo)
- Ways & Means Chair: Jacquelynn Hill
A Historic First: Pioneer Award
This year marked the graduation of the first-ever class from the School’s Laredo campus. Students Carolina Herrera and Irania “April” Delgado received the Pioneer Award, recognizing their courage and commitment as trailblazers in this new program.
Finale: Pinning Ceremony and Oath
The evening concluded with the traditional pinning ceremony, where each graduate was pinned by someone they selected. The evening closed with the recitation of the Dental Hygiene Oath, reaffirming the graduates’ commitment to ethical patient care and professional integrity.
Following the ceremony, graduates, family, friends and faculty enjoyed a celebratory reception.
Congratulations to the Dental Hygiene Class of 2025! Your achievements reflect your dedication to excellence and service, and the School of Dentistry wishes you continued success as you begin your professional journey.