The Department of Periodontics held their annual Awards Recognition Luncheon on Wednesday, May 22, to recognize outstanding predoctoral students in the College of Dentistry. Four awards were presented to three students. The Department of Periodontics is fortunate to have a legacy that includes three named awards from College of Dentistry Alumni.

The first award was the R.A. Greenawalt Scholarship award. This award is presented to an outstanding second-year dental student based on academic achievement, clinical proficiency, and research accomplishments. Dr. Shaoping Zhang presented the 2024 award to Tanveer Vasdev.

The second award is the Dr. Paula Weistroffer Award for Excellence in Periodontics. Dr. Weistroffer was a University of Iowa graduate and faculty member who passed away in 2019. 

This award, granted in her memory, is given to a third-year dental student who has demonstrated excellence in the specialty of Periodontics and comprehensive person-centered care. The criteria are based on academic achievement, clinical proficiency, and research accomplishments. Dr. Carlos Garaicoa and Dr. Georgia Johnson presented this award to Benjamin Gilles.

The third award was the AAP Student Award. This plaque is given to a promising senior student who demonstrates high academic and clinical achievement in Periodontics. 

This award is underwritten by a generous grant from the Procter and Gamble Company. The names of the recipients appear on the AAP website. Alumna, Dr. Jo Rummelhart, presented this award to McKenna Schnack.

The final award was new to the Department of Periodontics, this was the Dr. Jo Rummelhart Aspiring Periodontist Award. The department was fortunate to have the award’s creator and sponsor on-hand for the inaugural presentation. 

The Dr. Jo Rummelhart Aspiring Periodontist Award was created to provide one or more annual scholarships to deserving students enrolled in the College of Dentistry at the University who demonstrate merit and are in good academic standing who have been accepted into a graduate program in periodontics anywhere in the United States. Dr. Jo Rummelhart also presented this award to McKenna Schnack. Dr. Rummelhart is recognized as the first female periodontist in the Navy, so it is fitting that the first recipient of the award is also a female aspiring Periodontist.