{"id":17940,"date":"2026-02-12T11:03:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/?p=17940"},"modified":"2026-02-12T11:36:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T16:36:39","slug":"dental-hygiene-students-represent-profession-to-legislators-in-richmond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/12\/dental-hygiene-students-represent-profession-to-legislators-in-richmond\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Hygiene students represent profession to legislators in Richmond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Dental
Dental Hygiene students and faculty from Virginia Western Community College and Laurel Ridge Community College attend Rally Day at the Virginia State Capitol. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Western Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program exists “to empower students to become ethical, self-directed primary care providers.” Students in the program lived out that mission even before graduation by uniting at a Rally Day in Virginia’s General Assembly to advocate for their profession and patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Rally Day was an exceptional educational and professional experience for both our students and faculty,” said Joanie Bryant, Registered Dental Hygienist and Virginia Western Dental Hygiene faculty member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental Hygiene students stayed overnight Thursday, Jan. 22, in Richmond at the Commonwealth Hotel to be fully immersed in the legislative environment before Rally Day’s events. Early Friday morning, the group arrived at the Virginia State Capitol, where they joined more than 300 registered dental hygienists and dental hygiene students from across the commonwealth.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sen.
Sen. Bill Stanley speaks with Virginia Western faculty and dental hygiene students from Laurel Ridge Community College, Virginia Western Community College, Old Dominion University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After an opening session and orientation, students met in small groups with members of the General Assembly. In those meetings, students advocated for the dental hygiene profession and expressed concerns regarding proposed legislation, specifically Senate Bill 178\/House Bill 970 and SB 282\/HB 1036. Students discussed the importance of their role in public health, preventive care and patient access to oral healthcare, while practicing professional communication and civic engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Western student Julia Roadcap met with Sen. Bill Stanley of Franklin County. “He was receptive and engaged, providing me with the opportunity to see firsthand how legislators respond to advocacy,” she said. The group who visited with Stanley included Bryant and Sheri Moore, Virginia Western adjunct faculty member and former President of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Surrounded by hundreds of dental hygienists, students and advocates, I realized the importance of unity and advocacy within the profession,” Roadcap said. “Rally Day highlighted the importance of staying informed about legislation that affects both the profession and patient care. Participating in this event emphasized that my voice and efforts, however small, can help shape positive outcomes. This experience created an understanding that advocacy is an ongoing responsibility and not a one-time experience.”<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Registered
Registered Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygiene students fill the hallway of the Virginia Capitol building. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

After completing their legislative visits, dental hygienists from across the commonwealth were formally introduced in the House of Delegates and the state Senate. This recognition highlighted the collective presence of the profession and reinforced the importance of dental hygiene advocacy at the state level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Richmond trip was made possible with support from the Ottaway Endowed Travel Scholarship at the Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation. Bryant learned about the scholarship earlier this academic year and applied successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are deeply appreciative of the Ottaway Travel Scholarship for making this educational opportunity possible,” said Bryant, who also served as coordinator for Rally Day. “The experience had a lasting impact on our students and significantly enhanced their understanding of advocacy, leadership, and professional responsibility within the field of dental hygiene.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group from Virginia Western’s Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene Program was composed of students from Virginia Western and Laurel Ridge Community College. In an effort to help overcome the maldistribution of the dental hygiene workforce in underserved areas, Virginia Western delivers the Dental Hygiene Program to Danville Community College and Laurel Ridge via distance learning. Students are admitted to the distance sites biennially. All students enroll in the same classes and have the same clinical experiences, just at a different physical location.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Laurel
Laurel Ridge students Stacey Escobar, Samanta Perea (center), and Nazanin Vaziri.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Laurel Ridge student Samantha Perea noted the impact of seeing delegates and aides learn how bills could potentially affect patients.  “There is a reason we undergo two years of education and training to ensure that we can provide patients with the highest quality of care while prioritizing their safety,” Perea said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This experience has inspired me to continue advocating for the profession as I step into my career,” Perea said. “Whether that means joining the ADHA [American Dental Hygienists’ Association], pursuing a role as an educator, or becoming a clinical instructor at an institution, I want to do my part to make sure our profession stays strong and respected, and that our skills and knowledge are never undervalued, even when there’s a shortage of dental hygienists.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virginia Western student Jennifer Espino drew strength from seeing the profession represented. “One moment that stood out to me is seeing how many dental hygienists, students, and dentists came to support Rally Day,” she said. “It showed the importance of standing together as a dental community.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
Virginia Western students (from bottom left): Anni Johnson, Vanessa Hylton, (second row) Emma Caldwell, Rylie Schmidt, and Melanie Galleo (Clinical Instructor), (third row) Jennifer Espino and Melinda Roberts. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

“At one point, we filled the entire room where the meeting was being held. The speakers even mentioned that it was the fullest they had ever seen the room. That was really powerful to witness. It was encouraging to see that we are not alone and that our profession is widely respected and supported,” Espino said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Speaking on behalf of my profession was intimidating at first, but it quickly became empowering,” said Laurel Ridge student Skylar Kritzman. “One delegate specifically remarked that he wished more lobbyists could communicate their points as clearly and effectively as I had, which reinforced the importance of preparation and professional communication. Standing among hundreds of dental hygienists and students in white coats made it clear that our collective presence mattered and that our voices were being heard.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See more scenes from Rally Day below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Del.
Del. Joseph McNamara of House District 40 (center), stops to visit with a group from Virginia Western Community College including (from left): Melanie Galleo (Clinical Instructor) and Dental Hygiene students Melinda Roberts, Jennifer Espino, Riley Schmidt, Anni Johnson, Emma Caldwell and Vanessa Hylton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Virginia
Virginia Western student Julia Roadcap (center, in black coat) with Sen. Bill Stanley of Senate District 7, accompanied by Sheri Moore (third from left, Virginia Western Clinical Instructor and former President of the Virginia Dental Hygienists’ Association) and Joanie Bryant (far right, Dental Hygiene Instructor and Coordinator for Rally Day), along with Dental Hygiene students from Laurel Ridge Community College Jenna Kemler and Emma Hammond (third and second from right), and students from Old Dominion University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Registered
Registered Dental Hygienists and Dental Hygiene students from across Virginia participated in Rally Day at the Virginia State Capitol. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Virginia
Virginia Western Community College faculty and students. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Laurel
Laurel Ridge Community College faculty and students. Photo by Joe Mahoney.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Joanie
Joanie Bryant (Coordinator for Rally Day and Virginia Western Community College Dental Hygiene Faculty) greets Sen. Bill Stanley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Marlana
Marlana Thomas, Director of Dental Hygiene, with Virginia Western students Melinda Roberts and Rylie Schmidt.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Del.
Del. Joshua Thomas of House District 21 pauses to take a photo with a group of dental hygienists and students, including Dental Hygiene students from Laurel Ridge Community College: Skylar Kritzman (from far left of second row), Dahye Seo, Aurora Deane and Stacey Escobar (at right of Del. Thomas).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Dental
Dental Hygiene Director Marlana Thomas (from left), Del. Delores Oates of House District 31, Kate Hoffman (Laurel Ridge adjunct faculty member), and Laurel Ridge students Maria Downham, Kali Rolf and Madison Campbell.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Virginia Western Community College’s Dental Hygiene Program exists “to empower students to become ethical, self-directed primary care providers.” Students in the program lived out that mission even before graduation by uniting at a Rally Day in Virginia’s General Assembly to advocate for their profession and patients.<\/p>\n

“Rally Day was an exceptional educational and professional experience for both our students and faculty,” said Joanie Bryant, Registered Dental Hygienist and Virginia Western Dental Hygiene faculty member. Continue Reading Dental Hygiene students represent profession to legislators in Richmond<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":81,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-campus-news","category-stories"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Erica Myatt","author_link":"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/author\/emyatt\/"},"yoast_head":"\nDental Hygiene students represent profession to legislators in Richmond - News from Virginia Western<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Article about Dental Hygiene students represent profession to legislators in Richmond\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiawestern.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/12\/dental-hygiene-students-represent-profession-to-legislators-in-richmond\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dental Hygiene students represent profession to legislators in Richmond - 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