College Holds Pinning Ceremony for First-Ever Dental Assisting Grads

WINTERVILLE—Pitt Community College’s Health Sciences Division celebrated the school’s first class of Dental Assisting graduates with an on-campus pinning ceremony.

The program took place Aug. 30, a little more than a year after Pitt inherited Martin Community College’s Dental Assisting program. In addition to graduates receiving special pins commemorating the completion of their studies, the event featured several speakers and award presentations.

“Our first class of dental assisting students had an amazing year,” said PCC Dental Assisting Director Shelby Brothers. “They excelled in didactic, laboratory and clinical environments and are now entering the dental profession as qualified and well-trained Dental Assistant IIs.”

A three-semester diploma program, Dental Assisting teaches students how to perform office, chairside and laboratory procedures that assist with the delivery of dental treatment. As Dental Assistant IIs, Brothers said the 11 Class of 2022 members are capable of performing expanded functions, taking X-rays and coronal polishing. They are also eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become Certified Dental Assistants.

For PCC Health Sciences Dean Donna Neal, the ceremony was the culmination of a comprehensive effort to bring Dental Assisting to Pitt’s campus and get it off the ground and running.

“A lot of hard work went into relocating the program, purchasing equipment and renovating space in our Fulford Building to create a first-class, fully-equipped dental training facility and offices for faculty,” Neal said. “Seeing the smiles on the graduates’ faces was rewarding. I hope they wear their pins with pride for many years to come, knowing they are some of the most educated and capable dental assistants in the area by having completed their training with PCC.”

09/02/2022