15 dental students and two faculty members were honored at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry 2025 Student Leadership Awards on April 17 at the Celebration Barn in Iowa City.
The awards uplifted students who have made significant impacts among their peers and college community and highlighted the faculty members who have acted as positive role models for the students. The awards included Outstanding Tutor, Outstanding Peer Mentor, Emerging Leader, Outstanding Student Leader, Outstanding Student Group or Organization, Outstanding Student Group or Organization Advisor, Outstanding Philanthropic Contribution, Outstanding Student Organization Collaboration, Outstanding COD Student Worker, Unsung Hero, Outstanding Mentor, A Dentist and Something More, and the Student Leadership Legacy Award.
The award winners are as follows:
Outstanding Tutor
Isabel Scott, Class of 2025
Outstanding Peer Mentor
Alex Terrell, Class of 2025
Emerging Leader
Marlo Scholtes, Class of 2028
Outstanding Student Leader
Christina Spencer, Class of 2026
Outstanding Student Group or Organization
Hispanic Student Dental Association
Outstanding Student Group/Org Advisor
Dr. Natalia Restrepo-Kennedy, HSDA Advisor
Outstanding Philanthropic Contribution
IASDA Philanthropy Chairs Satnam Aulakh and Calvin Foss, Class of 2027
Outstanding Student Organization Collaboration
IASDA & Pediatrics Club
Outstanding COD Student Worker
Karly Connolly, Class of 2028
Unsung Hero
Alex Harper, Class of 2025
Outstanding Mentor
Dr. Nidhi Handoo, Oral Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine
A Dentist and Something More Award
Olivia Bartholomew
Student Leadership Legacy Award
Clare Caruso, Class of 2025
Student Leadership Legacy Award
Carter Coppinger, Class of 2025
Zachary Graham, Class of 2025
Samantha Mora, Class of 2025
Domi Robert Spain, Class of 2025
Amy Uehara, Class of 2025
Thank you to the 2025 Selection Committee — Mallory Obenauf, Coleman Johnson, Lily Wiese, Dane Carstensen, Tyler Jenness, Anna Hedges, Dr. Justin Nichols, Mr. Austen Hawthorne, and Dr. Sukirk Ganesan — for your work in preparing this event.
