Nine Illinois students awarded Hispanic Dental Association Foundation Scholarships
Top row, from left: Susej Bandres, Paige Madden, Christina Morales, Erendira Palomino-Razo and Paulina Reynoso. Bottom row, from left: Samuel Romo, Zydrune Rudaviciute, Linda Urbina-Perez and Evelyn Villeda Martinez. (Photos courtesy Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation)
Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation donates $50,000 to support equity in the dental profession
Nine students from five Illinois universities, all pursuing careers in dentistry and dental hygiene, received the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation (HDAF) scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year. Scholarships were made possible from Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation’s donation of $50,000.
“These scholarships are an important step toward addressing the significant disparity in the dental profession, where only 6% of dentists are Hispanic, despite Hispanic people making up more than 18% of the U.S. population,” says Dr. Ricardo Mendoza, director at the HDAF. “By offering both financial support and mentorship, we hope to address this disparity by empowering more Hispanic students to pursue a career in dentistry.”
Scholarships were awarded to six dentistry and three dental hygiene students (listed below) for demonstrating exceptional leadership, community service and dedication to serving the Hispanic community:
- Dentistry Students:
- Susej Bandres, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
- Paige Madden, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois
- Erendira Palomino-Razo, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois
- Samuel Romo, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
- Zyndrune Rudaviciute, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Illinois
- Evelyn Villeda Martinez, University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
- Dental Hygiene Students:
- Christina Morales, College of DuPage
- Paulina Ryenoso, Southern Illinois University
- Linda Urbina-Perez, Malcolm X College
“Supporting the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation scholarships aligns with our goal of increasing access to oral health care and education,” says Lora Vitek, executive director of the Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation. “These scholarships are an important step toward fostering opportunities for underrespresented communities in the dental field, which will help lead to more equitable health outcomes as more individuals will receive care in Illinois.”
In addition to the HDAF scholarship, Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation supports equity in the dental profession through its Diversity Admissions Scholarhsip to attend Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine-Illinois. To learn more ways Delta Dental of Illinois and its Foundation are promoting health equity and inclusion, see the latest Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
