Generous Donation from Richard and Theresa Crocker Funds 2015 Cohort
Reduced enrollment demand at Cabrillo College and the high cost of the Dental Hygiene program had made it prohibitive for the College to accept cohorts on an annual basis. However, thanks to a $100,000 donation from the Crockers, long time donors to Cabrillo College after whom the Crocker Theater is named, the program and Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene Clinic will continue in 2015-16.
“The Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene program is such an asset to our community, both for the well trained students it delivers to our local workforce, and for the essential Dental Hygiene Clinic that provides experiential training for the students as well as low cost services to the public,” said Richard Crocker. “Theresa is an alumna of Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene program, so it is especially important to us to see their great work continue.”
“Cabrillo’s overall enrollment decline had forced us to make some difficult decisions regarding high cost programs,” said Kathie Welch, Cabrillo College Vice President of Instruction. “We are thrilled about the Crocker donation, which, combined with streamlined efficiencies in the Dental Hygiene program, will allow us to continue accepting the full cohort of 22 students in the year 2015-16. Cabrillo’s faculty, staff, administration, the local dental community and now private donors, realize the importance of this program in the students it trains to work in dental offices throughout the greater Santa Cruz County.”
“We are so very grateful to Richard and Theresa Crocker for their generous donation,” said Bridgete Clark, Chair of Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene program. “The Cabrillo College Dental Hygiene program serves a critical need in the community and has a stellar reputation – our graduates have a 100% pass rate on their state board examinations, and upon graduation they secure gainful employment, often within the greater Santa Cruz County community, at comfortable living wages.”
The Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Dental Hygiene at Cabrillo College is a two-year, nationally accredited program that begins each summer semester and combines classroom lecture with on-campus dental hygiene clinical application and off-campus clinical lab experience at affiliated dental clinics.
“Cabrillo College is incredibly grateful to the Crockers for their continued generosity and support of Cabrillo College,” said Melinda Silverstein, Executive Director of the Cabrillo College Foundation. “Richard and Theresa are the kind of donors that see a critical need and recognize the importance to the community, then bring the college community together to retain the continuity of the program. In 2007, they gave $1 Million to the Visual, Applied and Performing Arts Complex, which made Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater become a reality. This gift to help restore Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene Program brings their total gift amount to more than $1.1 Million.”
Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Association (CODA) and prepares graduates for the Dental Hygiene National Boards as well as the California State Board examinations. Many Cabrillo Dental Hygiene program graduates work in dental offices locally.
Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene program also offers community members low-cost dental examinations, as well as teeth cleaning services, dental x-rays, scaling and root planning, and sealants, which provide Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene Students the opportunity to receive practical experience. Cabrillo’s Dental Hygiene program will continue to offer these services to the community.
The Cabrillo College Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1962 to raise private donations for the support of Cabrillo programs. Private support is used for student scholarships, research and educational programs, faculty and departmental support, facilities, and equipment. Of the 1,400 community colleges in the nation, the Cabrillo College Foundation ranks among the top 2%. Local citizens, college staff, faculty and Cabrillo trustees serve on the 34-member foundation board, representing all geographic areas. Over the last ten years, the foundation has raised over $34 million for college initiatives.
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Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Founded in 1959, the college offers over 100 academic and career technical education programs that serve multiple educational goals such as A.A. and A.S. degrees, certificates of achievement, skills certificates, transfer to 4-year institutions or for lifelong learning and personal enrichment.