The inaugural cohort of Mid-State Technical College’s Dental Assistant technical diploma finished their coursework this June, marking the first five students to graduate from the program.

The Dental Assistant students began the 16-credit program in February and were able to participate in Mid-State’s May commencement ceremony. The program was free to participants due to grant funding provided by the state of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Allied Health Professional Education and Training Grant.

“Discovering a hidden passion and finding my new dental family will always be my favorite memory from this program,” said Elizabeth Eades of Wisconsin Rapids, one of the graduates from Mid-State’s first Dental Assistant cohort. Eades received many interviews and job offers before graduation and is currently a dental assistant at Karla R McDonald DDS in Wisconsin Rapids. 

According to Eades, the dental field didn’t interest her at first. After being let go from her previous employer, she decided it was time for a change and applied. “My first day, I was in love, and every day after, my love grew more and more for dentistry and it was soon a passion,” Eades said. 

“I enjoyed every aspect of my journey,” Eades added. “Dayne, my Dental Assistant instructor, has built an impressive foundation for this program and brings with it an astonishing passion and an unwavering amount of support for each of her students' success. In the end of all of this, my pride and confidence in myself was discovered, and I feel like I won a big race. I allowed myself to get an education, and that is a gift I gave myself that will never be taken away.”

“We are extremely proud of our Dental Assistant graduates as they pave the way for future students,” said Daniel Wall, dean of the School of Allied Health. “The demand for dental professionals in our area is high, and this program along with our graduates are working to fill this need.”
 
“Our students learned from experienced dental professionals and practiced their skills right inside local dental facilities,” added Wall. “This type of training is critical to prepare graduates to confidently enter the workforce.”

Following are Mid-State’s spring 2024 Dental Assistant graduates. 

Maci Curtin – Marshfield
Elizabeth Eades – Wisconsin Rapids
Addison Goodness – Wisconsin Rapids
Destiny Radzinski – Wisconsin Rapids
Jordyn Russell – Wisconsin Rapids

More funding provided by the state of Wisconsin Department of Health Services Allied Health Professional Education and Training Grant, the Delta Dental of Wisconsin Foundation and the Mid-State Foundation is available for the next Dental Assistant cohort this fall. 

Learn more about Mid-State’s Dental Assistant program and funding opportunities at mstc.edu/programs.