Scholarships

Each year the ISDS Foundation currently awards up to $13,000 in scholarship monies to worthy dental students who are succeeding academically and who have committed themselves to community involvement. These funds are currently focused on the programs of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine and the University of Illinois College of Dentistry. In the next two to three years scholarships will be available to students at Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – Illinois.

It is through generous donor support that the ISDS Foundation is able to continue to provide financial assistance for today’s dental students. Many of these exemplary students will become tomorrow’s dental leaders.

The Paul W. Clopper Scholarship Grant for Junior Dental Students – A $3,000 financial grant is available to two students who will be juniors in the fall semester of dental school. It is based on academic and clinical excellence as well as financial need, student activities and community involvement. The scholarship memorializes the civic leadership and dedication to the dental profession of the founder of the ISDS Foundation. The David C. Shapiro Memorial Scholarship Grant for Senior Dental Students – A $3,000 financial grant is available to two students who will be seniors in the fall semester of dental school. It is based on academic and clinical excellence as well as financial need, student activities and community involvement. The scholarship memorializes Dr. Shapiro’s civic leadership and dedication to the dental profession. The Rock Island District Dental Scholarship Grant for Junior Dental Students – A $1,000 financial grant is available to one student who will be a junior in the fall semester of dental school. It is available only to students from the region of the Rock Island District Dental Society (RIDDS) which includes Mercer County, Rock Island County, and the northern half of Henry County and who are not immediate family members of a RIDDS member dentist.

Paul W. Clopper Scholarship Application
David C. Shapiro Scholarship Application
Rock Island District Dental Society Scholarship Application

Congratulations to our 2011 Scholarship recipient:

David C. Shapiro Scholarship Winner
Joel Lovell from Southern Illinois University School of Dental medicine

White Coat Ceremony
Donor support also enables the ISDS Foundation to help sponsor White Coat Ceremonies at the dental schools. The ceremony symbolizes the student’s entry into the healing profession of dentistry, as a new dental student. It celebrates the student’s choice to pursue a life in service to the health of society.You may read here more about White Coat Ceremonies.

Field Trip to the Future
This field trip, supported in part by the ISDS Foundation, enables students to see organized dentistry in action. The students tour the American Dental Association Headquarters in Chicago or go to the ISDS headquarters in Springfield for seminars and to tour the Capitol and attend presentations by legislators.