SMILE! On July 20, 2026, twelve Dental Assisting students received a commemorative pin from Shannon Thomason, MCC’s Dental Science Program Director, celebrating the completion of their program requirements. Friends, family, faculty and clinical partners were on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of Sara Allman, Fatima Barrera Morelos, Anna Eudy, Laura Jessup, Miranda Leon Mayoral, Adaias Leyva Montillo, Mary Moore, Natalie Parris, Natalie Primm, Rachel Stewart, Zory Vargas Estrada and Kathleen Wilkes. Today’s guest speaker was Dental Assistant II Alexandria McAlister, of the 2022 MCC Class, who spoke about the hard work and dedication displayed by this year’s cohort, and that the hurdles they faced were actually building blocks for a