Application Guidelines

The following guidelines are designed to facilitate the administration of the CDA Foundation Allied Dental Student Scholarship Program.

Eligibility for Scholarships
Any individual who is interested in becoming a dental hygienist, dental assistant, or dental laboratory technician, and is enrolled in a state-approved program is eligible to apply for a scholarship of up to $1,000 with their local component dental society. Applicant must be able to provide proof of enrollment from the school, no exceptions. Applicant must demonstrate responsibility/leadership, community organization involvement or any outstanding achievements and possess a positive desire to have a career in the dental field. Applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from a dental program instructor. Additionally, applicants have the option, and are encouraged, to provide a second letter of recommendation from a dentist who they have worked or volunteered with in some capacity.

Policy on Awarding Scholarships
The CDA Foundation will administer the program and award up to $1,000 to each component dental society (with a minimum of a $500 award to each recipient). The scholarship can be paid to the recipient or to the school (at the student’s request) and must be presented by the component dental society.

Approval of Applications
Each application for a scholarship must be approved by the Selection Committee of the component dental society where the student is enrolled or resides.

Completion of Application Forms
All requests for a scholarship must be done via the Allied Dental Student Scholarship application form and submitted to the relevant local dental society no later than their application deadline date. Please contact your local dental society to retrieve an application form, criteria and application submission deadline date. A scholarship cannot be awarded if the application is incomplete. All information received in connection with a scholarship application should be regarded as confidential by the Component Selection Committee and CDA Foundation.

Handling of Application Forms
When an online application has been completed and submitted, the Component Selection Committee will review it and make a determination. Once a selection is made, the component dental society will forward the award recipient’s application to the CDA Foundation where award announcement letter(s), certificate(s) and check(s) will be processed. The component dental society will present the award to the recipient(s).

Promotion in Component Publications
Component dental societies are asked to promote the Allied Dental Student Scholarship in their component publications and Web site.

Thank You Letters
Recipients are encouraged to acknowledge receipt of their scholarship by writing a thank you letter. These letters should be sent to:

CDA Foundation, Scholarship Program
1201 K Street, Suite 1511
Sacramento, CA 95814