The Department of Operative Dentistry held their annual Spring Banquet on Thursday, May 16 at Wilson's Ciderhouse in Iowa City. Several students were presented awards for 2024.

Nine awards were presented, including the Dr. Wallace W. Johnson Operative Dentistry Award, Academy of Operative Dentistry Award, Walter Williamson Award, Rudy Minger Award, Caries Management Award, Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry Award, Academy of Dental Materials Award, and the Carl Svare Pre- and Post-Doctoral Research Award.

• Amanda Seaberg (D4) received the Wallace W. Johnson Operative Dentistry Award, which is given in memory of Dr. Wallace Johnson to a student who has demonstrated outstanding character, professional education, and clinical excellence in operative dentistry. The award was presented by Dr. Aditi Jain.
• Abhingna Akurathi (D3) received the Academy of operative Dentistry Award, which is presented to a predoctoral student for excellence in operative dentistry. The award was presented by Dr. Thiago Porto.
• Colton Curtis (D4) received the Walter Williamson Award in memory of Dr. Walter Williamson and is awarded to a deserving dental student who has demonstrated excellence in restorative dentistry. The award was presented by Dr. Thiago Porto.
• Zacharie Wosepka (D1) received the Rudy Minger Award, in memory of Dr. Rudy E. Minger, to a deserving first-year dental student. The award was presented by Dr. Ariene Leme Kraus.
• Catia Atienza (D4) received the Caries Management Award. This joint award from Family Dentistry & Operative Dentistry is given to a deserving graduating D4 student who excels at providing high-quality comprehensive patient centered care management to complex high caries risk patients. The award was presented by Dr. Marcela Hernandez.
• Cecilia Vargas (D4) received the Society for Color and Appearance in Dentistry Award, presented to a graduating D4 student who demonstrates the highest level of clinical proficiency in color and appearance. The award was presented by Dr. Marcos Vargas, Dr. Bob Margeas, and Dr. Sandra Guzman-Armstrong.
• Jackie Yeh (D3) received the Academy of Dental Materials Award, which is given to a student who has demonstrated excellence in dental materials. The award was presented by Dr. Erica Teixeira.
• Austin Draws (D2) received the Carl Svare Pre-Doctoral Research Award, which recognizes a pre-doctoral student who has conducted outstanding research in the field of dental materials including biomaterials. The award was presented by Dr. Erica Teixeira.
• Dr. Zhuozhi Wang (Postdoc research scholar in dental research) received the Carl Svare Post-Doctoral Research Award, which recognizes a post-doctoral student who has conducted outstanding research in the field of dental materials including biomaterials. The award was presented by Dr. Erica Teixeira.

The department's two graduating residents - Dr. Khulood Alzahrani and Dr. Sandra Cunha - were also recognized ahead of their graduation from the Operative Dentistry Advanced Education Program.