Well, well, well, the Class of 2029 has arrived, and as of writing this newsletter, they have been indoctrinated with three days of orientation into the # 1 DENTAL SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. The highlight of orientation has been the PROFESSIONALISM ASSEMBLY, and your vice-president, Dr. Matt Stump, did a FANTASTIC job of welcoming them as young future alums.
Vice-President WVU SOD Alumni Association
Your Alumni Association helps in so many ways. The food provided for the students is compliments of our school and Alumni Association. Next week, Cathy Boyce, Marilyn Powley and the Board will be hosting the FRESHMEN PICNIC, and a great time will be had by all (including the old guy writing this article). I thought this would also be a GREAT time to thank Cathy and Marilyn for everything that they do for the faculty, students, and alums.
I have included the names, hometowns, and pictures of the new arrivals, and thanks to Dr. Valerie Perrine, we are having a rebirth of the MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. The program began in 2017 but was rudely interrupted by COVID. If you would like to be a mentor to any of these outstanding young men and women, you can contact Dr. Perrine or her administrative assistant Jetta Peterkin at 304-293-5589, or you can call me at 304-293-4301. (We will let you know what’s involved, but most importantly it is your TIME and CARING for these young professionals).
There is no way each one of the students could thank Dr. Perrine and Jetta for all they do. The mentorship program is just one of a thousand things that they do every day.
DENTAL CLASS of 2029
- Rayan Abul, Kuwait
- Ally Albert, Saxonburg, PA
- Hannah Atassi, Charleston, WV
- Elias Badkoubi, Washington, D.C.
- Evelyn Bastin, Charleston, WV
- Eli Blake, Charleston, WV
- Jonathan Cook, Summersville, WV
- Cayden Cox, Oak Hills, WV
- Aubrie Custer, Charleston, WV
- Olivia Geisler, Hillsville, VA
- Ava Hall, Scott Depot, WV
- Wyatt Hanshaw, Teays Valley, WV
- Bader Helwani, Ona, WV
- Kendall Hogarth, Baltimore, MD
- Dylan Huynh, Parkersburg, WV
- Jake Kalaskey, Charleston, WV
- Joseph Kalaskey, Charleston, WV
- Clay Lostetter, Beckley, WV
- Angelo Hanzo, Fairmont, WV
- Luke Markiewicz, Erie, PA
- Madison Martinez, Salem, VA
- Clay Martino, Bridgeport, WV
- Kobe Martino, Bridgeport, WV
- Sierra Marie Miller, Wardensville, WV
- Clarita Murphy, Virginia Beach, VA
- Julia Newsom, Virginia Beach, VA
- Luke Pinti, Bridgeport, WV
- Lucy Powers, Morgantown, WV
- Averie Price, Lebanon, VA
- Lillian Robins, Capon Bridge, WV
- Lama Salmeen, Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Lara Salmeen, Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Maria Salon, Beckley, WV
- Hunter Schaefer, Morgantown, WV
- Jake Seubert, Raleigh, NC
- Peyton Shanholtz, Short Gap, WV
- Jake Smith, Lancaster, PA
- Emily Snee, Canonsburg, PA
- Cambria Stetson, Eldersburg, MD
- Victoria Sturm, Clarksburg, WV
- Autumn Trent, Point Pleasant, WV
- Gianna Vaiarelli, Delran, NJ
- Gage Vincent, Suton, WV
- Maya Wetherbee, Corry, PA
- Jaden White, Rochester, NY
- Drake Williams, Bridgeport, WV
- Madison Wills, Fayetteville, WV
- Isaac Yoneda, Fairmont, WV
I would also like to remind everyone that for the first time in about 5 years we will be celebrating a FALL ALUMNI REUNION. On Saturday, November 8, we will sponsor a 2 hour infection control and infectious disease CE program presented by two of the VERY YOUNG FACULTY at the school, Jerry Bouquot and yours truly. The CE course will begin about 5 hours before the WVU/COLORADO kickoff, followed by the alumni reception at ERICKSON ALUMNI CENTER.
As you may already know, we probably will not know the time until the week of the game, so all times are subject to change (what else is new).
The food will be GREAT, but the camaraderie will be even GREATER. We are also planning a MENTORSHIP RECEPTION on Friday night and a tour of the dental school on Sunday. Hopefully by next month I will have all the details finalized, and the FOOTBALL MOUNTAINEERS will be undefeated (at least I can dream and so can Coach Rod).
One last person that I need to thank is our administrative assistant, Mary Veselicky. Mary has the unenviable job of working with me on all these newsletters, so again as always, THANK YOU, MARY.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the FALL ALUMNI REUNION, and many other school and alumni functions. As always, GOD BLESS YOU ALL & “LETS GOOOO MOUNTAINEERS”
Coach