Idaho State University Receives Student Member Community Service Award
The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) has named Idaho State University as a recipient of the Student Member Community Service Award. Idaho State University was honored during the Saturday Plenary Session and ADHA Award Presentations Washington, D.C., on June 20.
This award recognizes outstanding student chapters of ADHA that have made a significant contribution to the community. At least 90 percent of an institution’s dental hygiene class must be student members of ADHA for the chapter to be eligible for consideration.
The Idaho State University Student Chapter was honored for their volunteer work at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. One hundred percent of the dental hygiene students from the university participated in 2009, providing more than 1,000 hours of dedication to the Special Smiles program of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Initiative, providing more than 650 athletes coming from over 100 countries around the world with quality oral health care. Services consisted of non-invasive oral screenings, including review of oral hygiene, gingival status, dental restorations, caries and missing teeth. Participating athletes received a one-on-one oral health education session on brushing and cleaning their mouth, a mouth guard, application of a fluoride varnish and a bag of oral health aides. The student volunteers were involved in all aspects of the Special Smiles program, except for the oral health screenings, which were provided by licensed and practicing hygienists.
ADHA is the largest national organization representing the professional interests of more than 150,000 dental hygienists across the country. Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals, licensed in dental hygiene, who provide educational, clinical and therapeutic services that support total health through the promotion of optimal oral health. For more information about ADHA, dental hygiene or the link between oral health and general health, visit ADHA at http://www.adha.org.
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