Annual Dinner Honors Scholarship Donors and Recipients

“I remember sitting here as a student at the scholarship dinner and feeling so thankful, and also a little in awe of those in the room who had donated to make all of the scholarships possible.”

Crystal Walker (DDS ’04, PEDO ’06), Rinehart Foundation chair, shared her personal story at the annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner on Monday, October 14 in Pierson Auditorium, with a room full of student scholarship recipients and their donors. She received the Myrtle Rinehart Scholarship, wife of Dr. Roy J. Rinehart, the namesake of the Rinehart Foundation, that she is now the chair of.

“It’s up to us to continue this tradition of support,” she continued, “Because as you can see tonight, you are truly changing the lives of UMKC School of Dentistry students through your generosity.”

This dinner tradition is one that students and donors look forward to each year, to get have an opportunity to meet and mingle with donors, and even play some cross-generational trivia.

This year, the school distributed an outstanding 407 scholarships to 210 students, totaling $1,558,782.77 in educational support – breaking the school’s and the Rinehart Foundation’s record in scholarship support once again.

Fourth year dental student Justin Harper shared with donors “Your donations make impacts that reach well beyond our short time at UMKC. The relief from educational debt allows students like me a “foot in the door” when it comes time to buy into or start a practice, thus allowing us to impact countless lives in our communities.” He finished his remarks saying “[I] look forward to one day returning alongside my classmates to attend this event again, next time in the role of supporters of the dental program and future students.”

View group photos of students and donors here.

View candids from the event here.