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ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation


ADEA Scholarships, Awards and Fellowships

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The application deadline is Sept. 10. All applications must be submitted online, and incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted.


Purpose

The ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation provides financial assistance to dental hygiene students to enable them to achieve their academic and professional goals. Ms. DiGangi is a trailblazer, mentor and advocate dedicated to expanding and advancing career opportunities for dental hygienists. Her passion for dental hygiene and commitment to excellence led her to mentor others to help them reach their potential.

This scholarship named in her honor recognizes dental hygiene students who express the desire to transform oral health through leadership and innovative care delivery. The scholarship is open to dental hygiene students who have completed at least one year of an accredited dental hygiene program and are in good academic standing.

Overview

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to one student pursuing dental hygiene at the associate, baccalaureate or master’s degree level.


Application Information

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited program in dental hygiene or public health in the United States or Canada, having completed at least one year of the program,
  • Maintain good academic standing,
  • Demonstrate achievements in research, community service, leadership, personal growth, etc. that relate to career goals and
  • Hold an ADEA Individual Membership.

Applications to scholarships use information from ADEA member profiles. Please be sure applicant/nominee profiles are updated at adea.org/myadea prior to submitting application/nomination.

Application Process Checklist

Application Process Checklist

The following items must be submitted by Sept. 10, 2026, using the ADEA online application process:

  1. A letter of recommendation from a dental hygiene faculty member addressing the candidate’s qualities,
  2. A summary of the insights gained from achievements in research, community service, leadership, personal growth, etc. that relate to the candidate’s career goals,
  3. A current curriculum vitae and
  4. Transcripts obtained from the candidate’s school registrar verifying academic standing.

Identified information (e.g., biographies) of successful winners will be published on the ADEA website, shared with winner's home institution and may be used in ADEA promotional material. By accepting this scholarship, winner agrees to have read this disclaimer and understands how their information could be used.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline

All application materials must be received by Sept. 10, 2026.

Notification Date

Notification Date and Award Announcement

Scholarship recipients and applicants not receiving awards will be notified by December 2026.

Awards will be announced during the 2027 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 13–16, 2027, in Chicago, IL.

Participation Standards

ADEA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic as prohibited under applicable federal, state or local law.

All ADEA stakeholders (members, vendors, affiliate organizations or guests) who wish to participate in ADEA’s in-person or virtual events must affirm that they will abide by the ADEA Code of Conduct for Meetings, Conferences, Events, and Virtual Communities as a condition of participation.

Past Recipients

2026
Mr. Gregory Guyumdzhyan, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston

2025
Ms. Kristen Valenzuela, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry

2024
Ms. Piper Sullivan, The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

2023
Ms. Victoria King, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry

2022
Ms. Miranda Menk, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry


Questions

For any questions, please contact the ADEA Office of Learning at ProfessionalDevelopment@adea.org.

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