LLU School of Dentistry Journal

Journal

Spring 2002

Class of 1977 raises funds for School of Dentistry service learning projects

Members of the class of 1977 gathered during the recent Alumni Student Convention to discuss their class gift which will be used for service learning projects.

This year the class of 1977 celebrates 25 years as alumni of the School of Dentistry. In order to plan for the celebrations that would take place during the annual Alumni Student Convention, six members of the class; Drs. Jim Blalock, Chuck Flowers, Bruce Hasenauer, Doug Norman, Hank Mercado, and Gary Wuchenich served on a Silver Reunion Volunteer Planning Committee.

As the group began to decide upon a class gift, the committee members wanted to make their gift not only beneficial to the School; they wanted to select a project that would be meaningful to their class. They spoke to students, alumni, and administrators, and also recalled what was important to them while they were dental students.

“Many members of our class,” says Dr. Wuchenich, “participated in at least one mission trip while we were in dental school. These life-changing trips provided valuable clinical training, as well as the opportunity to be of service.”

The committee decided to establish a fund to help support student travel for mission trips, the “Class of 1977 Dental Student Mission Scholarship Fund.” The money raised will be used to assist students who desire to participate in service learning but for whom this would be a financial hardship.

The committee came up with a creative plan for their class to contribute a substantial amount—$200,000—to the fund over the next 20 years. The Loma Linda University Dental Group has agreed to match the class gift, and $50,000 will be allocated over 5 to 10 years.

Members of the 25-year class met at Redlands Country Club for their reunion during the 41st annual Alumni Student Convention in February. Dr. Charles Goodacre was an invited guest and Fred Kasischke, DMin, assistant dean, Admissions and Service Learning, spoke to the group about the Service Learning Program and his dreams for the future.

“Dental students annually provide care in many countries,” says Dr. Kasischke, “including Armenia, Bangladesh, Belize, Ecuador, El Salvadore, Haiti, Fiji, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Ukraine. There are students today,” he confides, “who want to join their classmates on a mission trip to one of these countries, but who simply cannot afford to go. The Class of 1977 gift will open doors for even more students to experience service learning.”

In addition, members of the Class of 1977 have been invited to share their valuable years of professional clinical experience with dental and dental hygiene students, and to join the School volunteering in clinics around the world, supervising students as they provide care.

Dr. Wuchenich and the Class of 1977 hope that their class gift will inspire future honor classes to choose a class gift which is beneficial to the School, current and coming students, in an area which is meaningful to them personally.

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