Dental Hygienist Scholarship for You

In this article, we will explain the best ways to apply for a dental hygienist scholarship and we mention the different programs that exist out there.

In one of the other sections on this web site, we've discussed the path to a dental hygienist career, through either a college degree or a certification program.

ADA Dental Hygienist Scholarship Programs

The American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation has established a scholarship program for the benefit of students pursuing a career in dental hygiene.

There is a limited amount of funding, and the number of scholarships depends on the size of each one. In other words, the dental hygienist scholarship fund is divided into scholarship awards until that year's fund is exhausted.

You will find that scholarships provide assistance with many expenses associated with a dental hygienist program: Tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living expenses all can be paid from a scholarship award.

Scholarship disbursements occur twice a year. They are issued in equal payments and sent directly to the student's account in his college's financial aid office.

Eligibility for the second disbursement depends upon the student's ability to maintain the required grade point average.

General eligibility guidelines for this scholarship program include:

• The applicant must be a citizen of the United States. A non-citizen holding permanent resident status does not qualify.



• Financial need must be demonstrated.



• Academic achievement is taken into consideration.



• The student must submit a biographical sketch questionnaire as well as two completed reference forms.



• The student must be enrolled on a full-time basis maintaining a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours.



• Based on a 4.0 grading scale, the student must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

There is also the ADA Foundation's scholarship program for dental hygienists; this is known as the Dental Hygiene Scholarship. It carries a maximum annual award of $1,000.

The application process for this dental hygienist scholarship includes:

• The applicant must be a citizen of the United States. A non-citizen holding permanent resident status does not qualify.
  
  
• The applicant must be entering the final year of study at the time of the application.
  
  
• The student's chosen dental hygiene program must be one that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.


• The student must be enrolled on a full-time basis maintaining a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours.
  
  
• The student must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $1,000.
  
  
• Based on a 4.0 grading scale, the student must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.



• The student must support his application with two reference forms completed by two dental hygiene program representatives. The references are submitted as part of the application process.

ADA Dental Hygienist Scholarship Application Process

Only a student from a dental hygienist program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association may apply to the ADA Foundation's Scholarship Program.

You can initiate the process by contacting the program director or financial aid officer at your school to request an application form for the scholarship. Only a dental school official is authorized to issue a form.

Officials from each dental hygienist program also bear responsibility for identifying its top two students and submitting their names to the ADA Foundation so that they can be considered for the scholarship.

Those who seek this scholarship must submit the following documentation:

• The completed application form. This includes the student's Academic Achievement Record Form. The forms used must be those designated as official forms of the scholarship application protocol.



• There is also a Financial Needs Assessment Form to be completed. This is also an official form designated by the scholarship foundation. It must be signed by a school official.



• The student shall submit a copy of the school or program's letter of acceptance, if this is the student's first year.



• The student must support his application with two reference forms. Each of these forms must be sealed and signed on the back flap by its author (the referrer).
  
  
• The student must submit a typed, biographical sketch questionnaire.



• The student must include a self-addressed, postage-paid postcard. This will be mailed to the student as verification that his application has been received. The Foundation does not accept responsibility for verifying receipt of any individual dental hygienist scholarship application over the phone or by e-mail.

Officials from each eligible school will submit to the ADA Foundation the top two completed dental hygienist scholarship applications as received from all students.

The deadline date for submission and consideration of eligibility is October 16. Any application received after this date will not be considered.

All notifications of funding decisions are issued after December 31.

To the top of this article about a Dental Hygienist Scholarship.