The University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry received a $1 million grant from Delta Dental of California to establish the Delta Dental Scholarship for Opportunity.
The scholarships will be awarded annually to students in the school's four-year DDS program with strong academic achievement in the face of adversity and who demonstrate an interest in working in underserved communities, according to a Jan. 12 press release. The first scholarships will be awarded this academic year.
Delta Dental made a $1.5 million contribution to UCLA Dentistry in 2018 in support of community-based clinical education. The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation was responsible for both grants.
Edmond Hewlett, DDS, a professor of dentistry and associate dean for equity, diversity and inclusion, said: "In our experience, many of these students know first-hand the plight of families and communities in critical need of accessible oral health care. Their passion to make a difference in their communities inspires us, and Delta Dental's endowment will create more opportunities for them to become agents of change."