Page 30 - Dentistry Magazine 2022

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DENTISTRY 2022
annually to the Dentistry Fund for Achievement, Dental School Scholarships Fund or the Dental Hygiene Fund.
The Bajaranos’ admission to the President’s Club came because of their membership in the Heritage Society. Heritage Society donors have pledged estate or other planned gifts that will continue to benefit the University beyond their lifetime.
“Your support is essential for the success of our students, faculty, research and community,” reflected Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD. “Your President’s Club membership signifies your exceptional philanthropic support to the school and the university. We value your contributions and always will.”
Meet Your Scholar brings a personal touch
to giving
A new effort from School of Dentistry Development is con- necting dentistry students with their scholarship donors, building partnerships across generations of gophers.
Instituted in 2021, the Meet Your Scholar program pro- vides an opportunity for benefactors to meet their student scholarship recipients. In February and March 2022, the first seven pairings of the program met one-on-one over Zoom to share insights and get to know one another.
Though Norman Bjornnes graduated from the Carlson School of Management rather than dentistry, he and his family have valued education their whole lives. His father and brother both graduated from the School of Dentistry, and his family members have collectively earned six
NORMAN BJORNNES (R)
MICHAEL ABEBE
degrees from the University of Minnesota. “Our University degrees provided the launching pads for long and reward- ing careers,” he said.
Michael Abebe, MDT ’24, came to the School of Dentistry to study dental therapy, where he knew he could “make
a direct change in someone’s life” and knew the School of Dentistry, with its challenging courses, great faculty and focus on diversity and equity was the right place to do it.
Abebe is grateful for his scholarship from Bjornnes, which helped him pay for expenses and “made my experience as a student more convenient and less stressful.” He was excited to meet Bjornnes, because he knew the opportu- nity would motivate him. “It inspired me to work hard and graduate after seeing the person behind my scholarship,” he explained.
Bjornnes called meeting Abebe “a special treat.” He con- tinued, “to listen to how he developed his interests that are driving his health care education journey was particularly inspiring.” Abebe hopes to work in a public clinic or hospi- tal serving underserved populations after he graduates.
For both Abebe and Bjornnes, the experience was mean- ingful and touching. While Abebe shared his hopes and dreams for the future, Bjornnes recalled his late father and his brother’s journeys as dentists, telling Abebe how proud he is of him.
“The Meet Your Scholar program brings the humanity of the scholarships up close and personal,” Bjornnes said. “It’s energizing. It’s inspiring to know that our oral health future is in good hands with these scholars.”