OKU Honors Graduates at 2016 Awards Dinner
The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) Lambda Mu Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society (OKU) held its ninth annual OKU Awards Dinner induction ceremony on Thursday, May 5, 2016, in at the Metcalf Trustee Ballroom. The induction was presided over by Dr. Stephen Polins, GSDM OKU Chapter President, and Professor in the Department of General Dentistry; and Ms. Catherine Sarkis, GSDM OKU Chapter Secretary, and Assistant Dean for Admissions.
The following DMD 16 and Advanced Standing (AS) DMD 16 students were inducted into OKU: William Andres Alvarez; Christopher Matthew Balaban; Sanaa N. Bhimji; Paul Cho; Arielle Brooke Curtis; Jessica Finkielsztein; Vincent Paul Hohreiter; Harith Fahem Kamil; Mira Youssef Albert Khouzam; Jae Kwak; Sandip Ladani; Neemi Lama Sherpa; Luri Lee; Guanghui Ling; Matthew David Mara; Mary Frances Mcclintock; Siddhi Dhirenbhai Mehta; Aaron Zachary Mertz; Lindsey Anne Nowland; Vincent Joseph Raucci; Casey Jeanne Smauder; and Angela Wu.
Students are selected for this honor based on their academic achievement, demonstration of exemplary traits of character, and potential qualities of future professional growth. Two faculty members—Alexander Bendayan, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences & Biomaterials; and Mayumi Onoe-Miyamoto, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of General Dentistry—were also inducted as honorary members. Faculty are selected for this honor based on their contributions to the profession.
Dr. Polins began the induction ceremony and delivered remarks to those in attendance.
“Each of you is here tonight because of the success you have demonstrated, and, by virtue of that success, you have validated that you possess the criteria essential for induction into this prestigious National Dental Honor Society,” said Dr. Polins. “In addition to scholarship, you have demonstrated exemplary traits of character, and qualities for future professional growth and attainment through act and deed.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter then delivered his opening remarks.
“Each of you being inducted into OKU this evening is to be commended for your remarkable academic achievement,” said Dean Hutter. “As your Dean, I take personal pride in your accomplishment and I extend to each of the 22 student inductees and the two faculty inductees my heartfelt congratulations.”
In his remarks Dean Hutter also read the preamble of OKU’s constitution.
Dr. Polins, Ms. Sarkis, and Dean Hutter then presented the awards.
The new members of the Lambda Mu Chapter of OKU received certificates and a symbolic key and stole signifying their election to the prestigious national dental honor society.
Photos from the induction ceremony are available on Flickr and Facebook.