Karp and Tibby named to UF Hall of Fame

Being a successful professional student at the University of Florida is an excellent accomplishment. However, being an actively involved professional student is no less than exceptional. For two UF College of Dentistry seniors, their accomplishments earned them spots in the UF Hall of Fame. Lance Karp and Tamara-Kay Tibby were among 30 students selected to the Hall of Fame because of their exceptional contributions to the university and the student body.

Karp has been extremely involved with several noteworthy university organizations. In 1995, he was the director of the UF Homecoming Parade and has served as a representative for the UF Dentistry College Council from 1996 to 2000. He was also historian for Florida Blue Key in 1999 and was selected as the outstanding member of the year.

In addition, Karp has received the UF Presidential Recognition Award for Student Achievement in 1995, 1996 and 1999.

Tibby has always been active both in the college and in the university and community. She serves as a director for UF's Student Government Community Affairs Planning and Development cabinet, which sponsors service projects and events that coordinate the efforts of the UF students and members of the Gainesville community. Tibby was a finalist in the 1999 UF Homecoming Pageant and won Miss Congeniality.

Tibby has numerous awards to her credit and recently received the prestigious Pierre Fauchard Academy Dental Student Scholarship Award given to students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and leadership abilities.

She has been the active leader of the Dr. Gordon Mattison Health Fair, which is in its third year. The fair honors the late Mattison, a former professor at UFCD who committed himself to providing health care to disadvantaged youth. Under Tibby's wing, the fair has been a huge success and continues to grow each year.

After graduation, Tibby will enter a two-year pediatric dentistry residency program at Harvard University's School of Dental Medicine and Children's Hospital Medical Center. Karp will enter UFCD's Advance Education and Graduate Degree program in Gainesville.

The UF Hall of Fame was established in 1920. Students were honored at a reception and their photos are displayed in the student union. A committee made up of student leaders and administrators select the students.