ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation

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 who is 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 an individual who is pursuing dental hygiene at the associate, baccalaureate or master’s degree level.

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.
• Be an ADEA Individual Member.
• Your application to this scholarship will use the information in your ADEA profile. Please ensure your profile is updated by going to adea.org/myadea.
• All ADEA program participants or scholarship recipients will be required to agree to comply with the ADEA Code of Conduct for Meetings, Conferences, Events and Virtual Communities, which is available on the ADEA website.

Application Process Checklist

The following items must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2025, 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.
4. Transcripts obtained from the candidate’s school registrar verifying academic standing.

De-identified applicant information will be used to improve scholarships at ADEA and may be published. Identified information (e.g., biographies) of successful winners will be published on the ADEA website, shared with your home institution, and may be used in ADEA promotional material. By applying to this scholarship, you agree that you have read and understand how your information could be used.

Application Deadline

All application materials must be received by Sept. 15, 2025.

Notification Date and Award Announcement

Scholarship recipients and applicants not receiving awards will be notified by Dec. 5, 2025.

Awards will be announced during the 2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition, March 21–24, 2026, in Montréal, Canada.