Hinman Scholars Named in STC Dental Hygiene Program
Courtesy of Southeastern Technical College
On behalf of the Thomas P. Hinman Board of Trustees, Southeastern Technical College (STC) is pleased to announce that Dental Hygiene students Ansley Cook of Bulloch County and Sydni Youmans of Tattnall County have been selected as Hinman Scholars.
Scholarship recipients were selected based on scholastic performance, having the highest overall averages in their class. Each student received a $500 scholarship.
Both students were Dual Enrollment students in high school, and both previously worked as dental assistants before their acceptance into the Dental Hygiene Program at Southeastern Tech.
“Without Dual Enrollment, we wouldn’t have been able to succeed and graduate at our age,” said Ansley. “It is with great honor that we have been chosen to receive this award. Being acknowledged for our dedication to the future of dental hygiene and for the time spent advancing our education is very appreciated. This scholarship will be a core memory. The recognition means so much. Receiving this scholarship will ease the burden of educational expenses and allow me to graduate debt-free. I am very thankful to be a part of STC and its Dental Hygiene Program. I’m incredibly grateful for my STC family—faculty, instructors, and mentors— who have helped make my career goals come to life.”
Ansley graduated from Statesboro High School in 2022. She shared that her decision to pursue a career in dental hygiene stemmed from a desire to raise awareness about oral health and to provide care within her community. “I was also drawn to this profession because of its flexible work schedule,” she said. “I plan to return to my hometown of Statesboro to begin my career.”
Sydni is a 2020 graduate of Jeff Davis County High School. Her experience as a dental assistant and volunteer for those in need sparked a strong passion for the dental field. She shared that her goal is to assist patients in achieving and maintaining optimal oral health. “I’m so grateful for the faculty and staff at STC who supported me throughout this journey—they will forever hold a special place in my heart. I’m truly honored to have been selected for this scholarship.”
The nonprofit Thomas P. Hinman Society has been granting scholarships to dental students since 1986, adding dental hygiene students in 1989. Since 2006, the Hinman Dental Society has provided more than $11 million in total giving in scholarships and financial support to universities and institutions associated with dental education.
The Hinman Dental Society sponsored its first Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting in 1912 with the motto: Devotion to detail is the secret of success.
Born in 1870, Thomas Hinman graduated from Southern Dental College in Atlanta with his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1891. The following year, he joined the faculty of his alma mater and became a professor of oral surgery. Dr. Hinman held high offices in many professional organizations, including the appointment by President Woodrow Wilson as the U.S. Delegate and Honorary Chairman of Section VIII of the Fourth International Congress of Dentists in London.
Today, the focus is still on providing the best possible continuing dental education for dentists and the whole dental team. The Hinman Dental Society today is comprised of 800+ dentist members, primarily located in metropolitan Atlanta. The combination of outstanding education and hospitality ensures the position of the Hinman Dental Meeting as one of the top dental programs in the country. With the continued growth of meetings and exhibits, more than 13,000 dental professionals participated in the 2025 Thomas P. Hinman Dental Meeting.
For more information on Southeastern Technical College, visit www. southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 or (478) 289-2200.
