ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation

Scholarship Sponsored by American Dental Education Association

The ADEA/MouthWatch Patti DiGangi Scholarship for Dental Hygiene Innovation is a financial aid program designed to support dental hygiene students in achieving their academic and professional aspirations. Patti DiGangi, a pioneer, mentor, and advocate in the field, has dedicated her career to broadening and enhancing the professional prospects for dental hygienists. Her unwavering commitment to dental hygiene and pursuit of excellence has inspired her to guide others towards realizing their potential.

The scholarship, established in her name, acknowledges dental hygiene students who aspire to revolutionize oral health through leadership and inventive care delivery. It is available to dental hygiene students who have successfully completed at least one year of an accredited dental hygiene program and have maintained good academic performance.

Program Details

The scholarship, valued at $1,000, is granted to a student pursuing dental hygiene at the associate, baccalaureate, or master’s degree level.

Qualification Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a full-time student in an accredited dental hygiene or public health program in the United States or Canada, having completed at least one year of the program.
• Have a good academic record.
• Showcase accomplishments in research, community service, leadership, personal growth, etc. that align with career objectives.
• Hold an ADEA Individual Membership.
• Ensure that their ADEA profile is updated as the scholarship application will utilize this information. This can be done at adea.org/myadea.
• Agree to adhere to the ADEA Code of Conduct for Meetings, Conferences, Events, and Virtual Communities, which can be found on the ADEA website. This is mandatory for all ADEA program participants or scholarship recipients.

Application Procedure Checklist

Applicants must submit the following items by Sept. 15, 2025, via the ADEA online application process:

1. A recommendation letter from a dental hygiene faculty member highlighting the applicant’s attributes.
2. A summary of learnings derived from accomplishments in research, community service, leadership, personal growth, etc. that are relevant to the applicant’s career objectives.
3. An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
4. Transcripts from the applicant’s school registrar confirming academic standing.

Anonymous applicant data will be utilized to enhance ADEA scholarships and may be published. Identified information (e.g., biographies) of successful applicants will be published on the ADEA website, shared with your home institution, and may be used in ADEA promotional material. By applying for this scholarship, you confirm that you have read and understood how your information may be used.