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HCC Dental Hygiene students win first at state peer conference

Mar 24, 2025

(left to right) Priscilla Alaniz, Kelsey Dumba, and Nohemi De Leon 

A Dental Hygiene trio from HCC Coleman College for Health Sciences took the top honor in the Scientific Student Poster Presentation at the Texas Dental Hygiene Association’s annual conference March 1 in San Marcos, Texas.

Priscilla Alaniz of South Houston, Nohemi De Leon of Houston, and Kelsey Dumba of Friendswood not only won the statewide event but also took home a $500 prize. Michele Giles, Dental Hygiene faculty member, sponsored the HCC Coleman College team. 

At the competition, the students presented, “Metformin: Impact on Periodontal Hard Tissues.” The presentation focused on how the medication metformin can potentially improve periodontal hard tissues for approximately 42% of American adults with periodontal disease.

At the TDHA conference, the HCC Coleman College students defeated teams from two- and four-year institutions, including Texas A&M University College of Dentistry and UT Health School of Dentistry. 

On March 5, trio competed again at the Greater Houston Dental Hygienist Association and finished second with a $150 prize.