CUMBERLAND — Allegany College of Maryland graduated 34 dental hygiene students at recent 47th commencement and accorded them additional honors at a Dental Hygiene Capping Ceremony held the same day.

The 34 dental hygiene graduates were presented full-banded caps symbolic of their profession.

Cumberland-area students who received an associate degree in applied science were Angela Schaeffer, Denise Kitzmiller, Amanda Lewis, Corey Love and Lorraine Sweit-zer.

Two students were capped by their mothers, who graduated from ACM’s dental hygiene program. Amanda Brophy of Frederick received her cap from her mother, Donna Quarry, a 1999 graduate. Rhetha Miller, a 2001 graduate, capped her daughter, Marti Miller of Berkeley Springs, W.Va.

Achievement and recognition awards were also presented to students.

Victoria Neff received the William T. Fridinger Award, which goes to the student who achieves the highest grade-point average. She was recognized for academic achievement in oral pathology, periodontics and pharmacology.

The winning entry at the dental hygiene program’s table clinic “Bisphenol — A in Dental Materials: Should we be concerned?” — was announced at the ceremony. Neff, Lindsey Mackley and Mirela Thilagar presented this clinic to the dental community on April 22.

The Technical Skills Award, which recognizes the student who displays the highest laboratory grades, was presented to Lindsey Mackley.

Monica Bollinger received the Procter & Gamble Preventive Dentistry Award. This award recognizes the student who is self-directed and demonstrates appropriate patient needs-assessment.

Melissa Moser received the Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award. This award recognizes the student who exhibits the highest degree of proficiency in scaling.

Stephani Wolfe was presented with the Maryland Dental Hygienists’ Association Leadership award. Kathy Mancino, president-elect of MDHA, made the presentation.

Donna Conneway received the Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler award. This award recognizes the student who exhibits the highest degree of proficiency in scaling.

The Johnson & Johnson Oral Health Care Award is given to the student with outstanding chair-side instruction and good communication skills and who |demonstrates excellence in community dentistry. Thilagar received the award.

Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals presented STAR, or Student Total Achievement Recognition award, to the student who demonstrates true dedication to the dental hygiene profession and exhibits compassion in patient care. Candace DeBernard received this honor.

Barry Nguyen received the Roberts-Roentgen Award for outstanding excellence in radiology.

Marti Miller was presented the Outstanding Clinician Award. The Upper Potomac Dental Hygienists’ Society honors the individual who possesses the highest level

of clinical skills and maintains an excellent rapport with her patients, peers and instructors.

Sigma Phi Alpha is the national honor society of the dental hygiene profession.

Individuals are selected for membership in recognition of their scholastic achievement and professional accomplishments in greater service to dental hygiene. Students inducted were Lorraine Sweitzer, Abigail Simmons and Amanda Lewis.