Honoring Excellence: Graduation Awards for CU Dental Students and Faculty
As the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine celebrates the graduating DDS Class of 2025, we are proud to recognize the students and faculty members whose exceptional dedication, leadership and service have earned special honors.
Community impact
Ten students were inducted into the national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU): Brendan Patterson, Jillian Desmond, Geena Song, Maxim Kondratenko, Mona Khaledi, Brianna Cartwright, Maiti Grabow, Christina Spady-Montoya, Jared Harrison and Marisa Martin-Wegryn .
This year's OKU faculty inductee was Chaitanya Puranik, PhD, MDS, MS, BDS , associate professor and director of the residency program and predoctoral education in pediatric dentistry. Molly Pereira , executive director and CEO of the Colorado Dental Association, was honored as a lifetime inductee.
The following faculty awards were selected by the graduating class, presented by class president Jamie Mason and student affairs representative Jennifer Ringsdorf at the graduation banquet and awards ceremony.
Why it matters
The Career Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose career dedication to educating the next generation of dentists has left an indelible mark on the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. Ahead of his retirement after more than two decades with the school, the Career Achievement Award was presented to Associate Professor and Chair of Restorative Dentistry Daniel Wilson, DDS .
Daniel Wilson, DDS, receives the CU School of Dental Medicine Career Achievement Award, presented by Dean Denise Kassebaum, DDS, MS, at the DDS Class of 2025 Graduation Banquet and Awards Ceremony.
Related articles
As the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine celebrates the graduating DDS Class of 2025, we are proud to recognize the students and faculty members whose exceptional de
As the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine celebrates the graduating DDS Class of 2025, we are proud to recognize the students and faculty members whose exceptional de
As the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine celebrates the graduating DDS Class of 2025, we are proud to recognize the students and faculty members whose exceptional de
News 24 April 2026
The dental profession is mourning the loss of Byoung In Suh, a pioneering scientist, educator, and entrepreneur whose work helped define modern adhesive dentist
They started their journey at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) from computer screens in their bedrooms, which made the culmination of their achievements even more notable as the Class of 2024...
Read more
Recently unveiled software features improved user experience designed to bring clarity, efficiency, and confidence to daily orthodontic treatment.
News 22 July 2026
The Tellie Awards honor the innovators expanding access to care, improving patient outcomes, and advancing medical-dental integration.
News 22 July 2026
Peak Dental Services, a growing doctor-led dental services organization, is redefining what it means to support dental professionals, becoming the first dental services organizatio
Editorials 22 July 2026
Taylor accepted as a Fellow of the American Dental Education Association Council of Deans
Reginald Taylor, associate professor and director of predoctoral orthodontics at Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, was recently accepted into the American Dental Education
Oral Hygiene & Prevention 22 July 2026
This peer-reviewed oral hygiene & prevention article summarizes clinical evidence from Journal of dentistry (2026). It focuses on findings that may help dental professionals evaluate treatment...
Copyright © 2026 - All Rights Reserved
ISSN 2767-1178