MnDHA Awards
The 2011 Member of the Year was nominated by a friend, colleague and instructor of this most amazing woman who is highly deserving of this award.
She graduated in 1979 from the University of Minnesota Duluth Dental Hygiene Program. In 2008 she received her BSDH from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
One of her endeavors includes working with MnDHA to increase access to oral health prevention programs implemented by dental hygienists in community settings throughout Minnesota. In doing this, she was actively and totally involved with the discussion and negotiation to create Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice in Minnesota. She took a huge professional leap to become the first dental hygienist to create a collaborative dental hygiene practice school-based program on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. It was breaking new ground in Minnesota, and she has made this very successful.
As a founding and continuing Board member of the Northern Dental Access Center in Bemidji, she infused the need for dental hygienists to be involved in that community effort. The clinic today is bursting at the seams due to the large unmet need in that area.
This amazing dental hygienist has dedicated countless hours to the role of Co-trustee of her component driving many hours to attend numerous MnDHA meetings. She is an excellent role model for the new dental hygienists in her area and she donates much time to meeting with current students, encouraging them to also get active with their professional association.
Special Olympics is of personal interest for her as she donates countless hours to that organization. She is a Clinical Director for the Special Smiles Program in Northern Minnesota, as well as a volunteer coach, the athletes are truly fortunate to have her expertise.
Additionally, the fact that she recently completed her baccalaureate degree as well as a Post-baccalaureate certificate in Collaborative Dental Hygiene Practice, says much for this woman who is passionate about any issues for which she gets involved.
It is with great respect and honor that the Minnesota Dental Hygienists' Association honors this 32 year member, Cathy Jo Gunvalson, with the 2011 Member of the Year Award!
MnDHA Member of the YearNominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Member of the Year Award. Nominees must be active, current members of our association, and should have served MnDHA in many ways over the years. Please submit nominations by October 1, 2012 to be considered for the award. The recipient will be honored at the 2012 MnDHA Annual Session in November.
Member of the Year Nomination FormCurriculum Vitae Form
Submit Nominations to:
Sandy Nickolson
3816 Mayfair Ave
Hibbing, MN 55746
218-263-5574 Home
218-969-7359 Cell
sandnickol@yahoo.com
Marian Leebans Award
Have you been a member of MnDHA for 40 or more consecutive years, or do you know a member that fits this distinction? Nominees for this award must have committed time to our association and been a member for 40 or more years. Applications should include as much of the following info as possible:
- Name
- Address
- School
- Year of graduation
- Years of continuous MnDHA membership
- Years in practice
- Contributions to MnDHA
- Offices held
- Committees served
- What has kept them active in MnDHA for 40 + years
Submit Nominations to:
Sandy Nickolson
3816 Mayfair Ave
Hibbing, MN 55746
218-263-5574 Home
218-969-7359 Cell
sandnickol@yahoo.com