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BIDDEFORD, Maine

High school students take time out from vacation for UNE's third annual Dental Careers Exploration Camp

The University of New England hosted its third annual "Dental Careers Exploration Camp" for high school students on Sunday, June 24 - Tuesday, June 26, 2012 on the Portland Campus.  

Twenty students from Maine and New Hampshire attended.

On, Monday, June 25, students learned about various dental techniques in a clinical setting on a patient simulator, including drilling and filling teeth. On the morning of Tuesday, June 26, students had the opportunity to job shadow at dental offices in the area.

"The need for increased access to dental care in is great," said James Koelbl, dean of UNE's College of Dental Medicine, scheduled to open in the fall of 2013.  "We hope this camp will inspire our next generation of dentists."

Time Warner Cable is among this year’s sponsors as part of the company's Connect a Million Minds philanthropic initiative to encourage young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"We share a commitment with UNE to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and problem-solvers," said Paul S. Schonewolf, Time Warner Cable's area vice president of operations.  "UNE's dental camp is a great way for young people to discover their potential for careers in science and technology as well as help address an issue of critical importance ‚Äì the acute shortage of dentists."

UNE's Dental Careers Exploration Camp is sponsored by Time Warner Cable, TD Bank and the Maine AHEC Network. 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.