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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE dental hygiene students co-host Boys and Girls Club event

L-R: Dental Hygiene students Gabrielle Gosselin ('17), Cassie Fickett ('17), Olivia Hopkins ('20) and Victoria Verbitzki ('20).
L-R: Dental Hygiene students Gabrielle Gosselin ('17), Cassie Fickett ('17), Olivia Hopkins ('20) and Victoria Verbitzki ('20).

Students from UNE’s Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP) welcomed approximately 50 children from the Boys and Girls Club of Portland to an interactive, educational event at the Harold Alfond Forum.

WCHP student volunteers led stations on a variety of health-related topics, from healthy, low-sugar beverage options to sun protection. At the dental hygiene table, students ages 6 to 12 brushed an oversized set of teeth and learned the proper flossing technique. Each child was given a goodie bag filled with floss, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toothbrush covers and books.

“Gestures that seemed simple to us, like showing how to brush and floss and giving goodie bags, made these children’s faces light up,” said Cassie Fickett (Dental Hygiene, ‘17). “That feeling is indescribable.”

“I feel fortunate to be enrolled at a university that allows collaboration with other majors and offers many different outreach opportunities,” she continued. “Being able to give back to the community and educate future generations is incredible and important.”

 

To learn more about the University of New England’s Westbrook College of Health Professions visit www.une.edu/wchp

To learn more about the Department of Dental Hygiene, visit www.une.edu/wchp/dental

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

Gabrielle Gosselin and Cassie Fickett
Gabrielle Gosselin and Cassie Fickett

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.