Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Dental Assisting alum Kandra Luna wins national scholarship

Photos and story by James Hill

Kandra Luna, a PCC alum, was selected as the winner of the Dental Auxiliary Learning and Education Foundation’s Liz Koch Memorial Scholarship for dental professionals – one of two selected for the honor in the nation.

Luna graduated from the Dental Assisting Program at PCC’s Sylvania Campus and has gone on to become a DANB Certified Dental Assistant, Expanded Functions Dental Assistant and Expanded Functions Orthodontic Assistant. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree and is active in the community – sitting on PCC’s Dental Advisory Committee and Alumni Association and the Oregon Dental Assistants Association.

The scholarship was open to all dental assistants, Dental Assisting National Board, Inc., certificants and others in field, and is intended to help oral healthcare professionals reach their professional development goals and support their mentorship activities. In total, the scholarship committee received more than 100 applications from dental professionals across the country.

Luna now works at a general dental practice and will apply her scholarship award toward her DANB Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) certification. Her next goal is to work in dental assisting education and help students achieve their goals. “I am motivated to help others accomplish their goals and strive to do their best,” she said.

The Liz Koch Memorial Scholarship is named in memory of Liz Koch and her contributions in support of dental assistants. Koch served as Chief Operating Officer of DANB and the DALE Foundation until her death in 2011. The foundation provides online educational courses and resources to help advance the dental team. The DALE Foundation benefits the public by providing quality continuing education to dental professionals and conducting sound research to promote oral health.