Mary Dole Scholarship

In Memoriam: Mary E. (Cahoon) Dole, RDH

Over the course of her professional life, Dole received prestigious honors during her lifetime including ADHA's Alfred E. Fones Award for outstanding service and dedication to the dental hygiene profession (1982), a certificate of appreciation on the 70th anniversary of the Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists and for her contributions as an outstanding alumnus (1986), Outstanding Hygienist of the Year from the Metropolitan District component of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists' Association (MDHA) (1993) and Outstanding Hygienist of the Year from MDHA (1994).

Upon graduation from Forsyth, Dole became a member of ADHA and served in leadership roles in her component and constituent associations. She participated on many MDHA committees and was a delegate and alternate delegate to ADHA's House of Delegates at the annual session, where she also presented several table clinics.

Dole attended postgraduate courses in dental hygiene at Boston University and Tufts. She was a member of Sigma Phi Alpha, Pi Chapter, Dental Hygiene Honor Society at Forsyth, and served as president. She was a member and leader of many committees at Forsyth School for Dental Hygienists and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

She also volunteered at the Yankee Dental Congress as a presiding chair at continuing education courses up until 2011.

During her clinical career, Dole felt she was very fortunate to have worked for some very prestigious dentists in the Boston area. When she married Warren C. Dole, she moved to the Worcester area and continued to work clinically until recently, when she was forced to retire due to medical problems. She wrote, "Dental Hygiene was my whole life ... it was a great profession, and I was never burnt out and always looked forward to going to work to look at all those teeth. I wish I had 50 more years to practice."

Purpose: The Mary Dole Scholarship supports a dental hygiene student currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree level program who has demonstrated academic excellence in dental hygiene.

Overview: Each year the American Dental Hygienists’ Association of Massachusetts will award a dental hygiene student $500.00 which will be applied to tuition and fees.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicant must

Be a permanent resident of Massachusetts regardless of school choice
Be enrolled at an accredited U.S. Dental Hygiene School Master’s Degree Program
Demonstrate, through personal activities and achievements, a strong interest in dental hygiene
Possess a superior academic record. The cumulative average must be 3.5 or higher
Be a current member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association

Application Process Checklist
Applicants must submit the following items:

Two letters of recommendation (in a word document).
An essay of the student’s insights he/she has gained from achievements and activities in dental hygiene. The essay can indicate future career goals in dental hygiene.
- The essay should be 1000-1200 words, double-spaced in a word document.
A current curriculum vitae.
Transcripts obtained from candidate’s school verifying academic standing.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: All applications must be received on or before July 15, 2024

Questions should be directed to: Amy Willor – Education and Research Chair @ [email protected]