46th Annual OKU Mu Nu Chapter Convocation

Held at the Petroleum Club of San Antonio on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, the Mu Nu Chapter of Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU) celebrated their 46th annual convocation. Three categories of membership in this prestigious dental honor society include: alumni, faculty, and honorary.

Alumni Honorees are selected among the highest-ranking students in the senior class. Election to OKU includes an assessment of the student’s character as well as academic performance. Election to OKU is the highest honor that is bestowed on our students. Alumni honorees represent the future of dentistry, so we are proud to announce the 2019 Alumni members:

• Dr. Heather Burbick

• Dr. Steven Elliott

• Dr. Taylor Kauffman

• Dr. Thomas Nguyen

• Dr. So Hyeon "Sarah" Park

• Dr. Sean Rathburn

• Dr. Samantha Sackos

• Dr. Mohammad Safaie Yazdi

• Dr. Kristen Self

• Dr. Daniel Splinter

• Dr. Jacob Woods

• Dr. Kathryn Wynne

Faculty Honorees are elected to membership demonstrate a high level of contribution to the art, science, or literature of dentistry. Election to OKU is one of the highest honors give to a faculty member. The 2019 Faculty Honorees are:

• Dr. Robert Kaminski

• Dr. Nataliya Verona

Honorary Members of OKU are non-dentists with substantial contributions to the art, science, or literature of dentistry. One member is elected each year. Congratulations to:

• Mrs. Georgiana Gross

Special Awardees

Ms. Samantha Whitten was presented with The William S. Kramer Award of Excellence. This award is sponsored by the Supreme Chapter of OKU to recognize an undergraduate dental student, in each chapter, who shows the greatest potential for future advancement of the profession and service to humanity. Eligible recipients must be ranked academically among the top five students in the class at the completion of their second year in dental school.

Mr. Kyle Gopffarth was honored with the Mu Nu Chapter Memorial Award of Excellence. In memory of those of Mu Nu Chapter that have gone before us, candidates are nominated from the five sophomores ranked highest in scholarship and the recipient is chosen by vote of the chapter membership.

Dr. Kristen Self received the Mu Nu Chapter Senior Award of Excellence. From the five seniors ranked highest in scholarship, the recipient is chosen by vote of the chapter membership.

The Mu Nu Chapter Sophomore Award of Excellence is presented to the three highest ranking students, out of the top ten, who have shown their scholastic ability and have upheld the principles of OKU. The 2019 awardees are:

• Ms. Victoria Diggs for Outstanding Achievement in Academics

• Mr. Robert Brock for Outstanding Achievement in Research

• Ms. Catherine Cerna for Outstanding Achievement in Service

Finally, the next group of Mu Nu Chapter Officers were announced as:

Mu Nu Chapter Officers (2019-2020)

• Dr. Rita Parma, President

• Dr. Gregory Spackman, President-Elect

• Dr. Niraj Patel, Vice President

• Dr. Elena Riccio-Leach, Secretary-Treasurer