This year, more than $1.5 million in scholarships were awarded at the Scholarship Recognition Dinner — the largest amount to date. The school distributed 364 scholarships to 193 students at the annual celebration of donors and recipients, held Oct. 16 at the UMKC Student Union. School administrators and two current students, Abby Loch, a senior studying dental hygiene, and Kristina Nguyen, a fourth- year dental student, spoke at the event.

“Seeing the difference a cleaning, filling or crown can make reminds me how the dental work I received growing up helped me improve my confidence,” said Nguyen. “In those moments, my classmates and I see the difference we make in our patients’ lives, and your donations have a great effect. You are helping us help others.”