WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Feb. 17, 2015 — Three West Liberty University students are celebrating their success after receiving official acceptance letters into dental school. C.J. Hester, Olivia Mason and Donovan Walter have all received letters informing them that they will take the next step toward becoming a dentist next fall.
From left, CJ Hester, Donovan Walter and Olivia Mason pose in the STEM classroom, Arnett Hall.
“We are proud of our students and their work. Over the last seven years, 85 percent of our graduates who have applied to professional/graduate programs have been accepted. This is clear evidence of the strength of our program,” said Dr. Robert Kreisberg, Dean of the College of Sciences.
All three students will be attending the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Two of the three were enrolled in WLU’s DEAP or Dental Early Admission Program, which allows a student to apply as early as the beginning of the sophomore year if requirements are met. The early acceptance program began at WLU just one year ago.
“West Liberty University has a demonstrated record of preparing top-notch students for admission to dental school. Dental career-readiness begins with a solid academic foundation in college. WLU is a reliable partner in developing competent and confident students to take on the rigorous dental curriculum. Currently, three WLU graduates are making steady progress toward finishing the dental program (at WVU) this year while another three WLU students are anticipated to matriculate in August,” said Shelia S. Price, DDS, EdD, who is Associate Dean of Dental Admissions at WVU.
Hester, who is perhaps better known as a starter for WLU’s high ranking men’s basketball team, found out about a month ago that he was accepted into the WVU program. He’s pleased to know that he will be able to seamlessly transition from college to dental school after spring graduation.
“DEAP was excellent preparation for applying to dental school. The schedule and individual help that I received made a difference,” Hester said. A resident of Pittsburgh, Pa., he is the son of dentist Dr. Eugene “Joe” Hester and his wife Diane.
“West Liberty University has a great undergraduate program for dental school. It was good for getting me used to interviews and helped me focus on the classes I needed to get in and advance in my career,” Walter said. A resident of Triadelphia, W.Va., he is the son of Dr. Donald and Diana Walter. His father is a dentist as well and Donovan currently works part time in his office, located in Wheeling.
Mason came to her acceptance via a different route, since she attended WVU as an undergraduate but didn’t complete her requirements for preadmission to dental school. So she enrolled at WLU for a semester to complete her science undergraduate classes and has been rewarded now with dental school admission.
“It’s been a great experience here at West Liberty University. The small classes and friendly atmosphere helped me to feel at home,” she said. Mason is from Wheeling and is the daughter of Curt and Sherri Mason. She works as a dental assistant, part time for Dr. Heather Taylor, Glen Dale, W.Va.
Undergraduates must maintain a 3.6 GPA to qualify for DEAP at WLU.
“It’s a lot of hard work and you really have to stay focused all four years to get into dental school. I’m grateful for West Liberty’s program and for the advice and guidance of our professors,” said Hester.
Graduation might be three months away but for these seniors, their future is clearly in sight.
“We can’t help but be proud of our students in the College of Sciences. We have graduates in doctoral, medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, speech pathology and audiology, dentistry programs attending and graduating from prestigious institutions including, Brown University, Ohio State University, Washington University School of Medicine, West Virginia University Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, University of Tennessee School of Veterinary Medicine, and University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine. The success of our students is a measure of the academic rigor in our programs and the opportunities for research and service available at West Liberty University,” Kreisberg added.
For more information on, please visit westliberty.edu or call 1-866-westlib.
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