Louise Coira Memorial Outstanding Member Award - Linda Powell, RDH, BS, MS

The Louise Coira Memorial Outstanding Member Award is presented every two years to an active PDHA member who has been a member for at least ten (10) consecutive years and has made significant contributions during that time to include active, productive, and meritorious service to a component and/or PDHA.

It is fitting that Linda receive this award because to get her first school dental hygiene position, she contacted Louise Coira who was working in the Department of Health in Harrisburg. (The award is named after Ms. Coira.)

For nearly 20 years, Linda worked for the Penncrest School District in Saegertown, PA, where she started the dental hygiene program for grades K-7. From 1997-2003 she served on the PA State Education Association Board of Directors. Linda served as President of the Department of Pupil Services during this time. “Promoting dental health is really about promoting student health and student health is critical to learning.” In 2006, Linda was honored by the Meadville YWCA for her 38 years of service and for establishing dental hygiene programs for students in the Millcreek and Penncrest School Districts.

Community Dental Health Award - Alberta Landis, RDH, BS, MS

Community Dental Health Award is presented annually to an active member of PDHA who exhibits community dental health involvement demonstrated by: volunteering or a public health employee demonstrating exceptional involvement in public health and who has initiated, developed, and established the most innovative community dental health project.

Alberta has built her entire dental hygiene career on expanding access to oral health care through planning, developing, implementing and assessing programs for diverse populations in PA. For over 15 years, Alberta was the Director of Dental Hygiene Services in the Perkiomen Valley School District where she was a guiding force by securing and maintaining oral health care and education. In 2000, Alberta was called to be of greater service to her community when Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) opened a new dental clinic in West Chester, PA. She is currently responsible for running a five chair dental clinic to the underserved. Alberta also developed an on-going fluoride varnish program with the Head Start programs in Chester County.

Honorary Membership Award - Marjorie L. Mengle, BS, MSEd

Honorary member--any individual, not a dental hygienist, who has made outstanding contributions to dental hygiene or dental health shall be eligible for Honorary Membership upon nomination by the Board of Trustees and election by the House of Delegates.

Margie was hired by the PDHA in September 1987 as Recording Secretary at the Board of Trustees meetings. At the September 1989 board meeting, the BOT reviewed a proposal submitted by Margie and by unanimous vote was offered the position of Executive Secretary. As an independent contractor, Margie established the Central Office of the PDHA in her home beginning in January of 1990.

Initially, duties of the Executive Secretary included Computer Manager, Associate Journal Editor, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary. Over the years, her duties have multiplied now to also include: Scopes manager, continuing education registrar, and Annual Session pre-registrar.

Margie lives in Mechanicsburg with her husband David.

A big THANK YOU to Margie for all she has done for the PDHA.

2006 Outstanding Teaching Award Recipient - Angela Rinchuse

Westmoreland County Community College President Steven C. Ender recently presented WCCC Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene Angela Rinchuse of Belle Vernon with the college's 2006 Outstanding Teaching Award.