Dentistry College Council garners top honor
The University of Florida Dentistry College Council recently was voted College Council of the Year by the UF Board of College Councils. The award distinguishes the dentistry student group as the first Health Science Center college council to receive this honor.
The Board of College Councils comprises two representatives from each of 20 councils campuswide. The board distributes funds to the councils to use for projects and attending meetings. In addition, the board disseminates information about budgets, new policies and upcoming events. At the end of the year, each council is required to give a presentation to the board.
Dentistry council representatives Mark Vanzant and Ricky Shaffren put together a comprehensive presentation of activities the group sponsored during the past year. These community projects included oral health education at elementary schools, nursing homes and the Gordon Mattison Health Fair. They also supported students’ trips to dental conventions throughout the year. Within the college, the council is brightening the pediatric dentistry waiting area with a mural. The council also has a long history of sending students to Haiti and the Dominican Republic to provide dental care to the needy.
Senior dental students Mike Barbick, council president, and Stephanie Reeder, secretary, led a dedicated group of students in reaching their goals.
“We are thrilled to win this award,” Barbick said. “The council not only provided services for the college, but also to the Gainesville community. We are looking forward to the fall semester when we can expand on serving these groups and others.”
“The award means so much to us because it shows what we can accomplish when everyone pitches in,” Reeder said. “It was a total team effort this year and the students are even more excited about new activities for next year. We have a great group of student leaders in this school and a wonderful and helpful student adviser in Dr. Marc Gale.”
The dentistry council’s plans for next year include having a stronger presence in the community with the help of continued student involvement.