Prairie State College receives $1 million grant

Congresswoman Robin Kelly presented Prairie State College President Dr. Michael Anthony with a ceremonial check for $1 million. The College will use the money to expand its dental hygiene program. Photo provided by Prairie State College.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly presented Prairie State College President Dr. Michael Anthony with a ceremonial check for $1 million. The College will use the money to expand its dental hygiene program. Photo provided by Prairie State College.

 Prairie State College receives $1 million grant

By Tia Carol Jones

Prairie State College has received a $1 million grant as part of the federal community project funding. The College will use the funds to advance its dental hygiene program. On Wednesday, March 15th, Congresswoman Robin Kelly presented a ceremonial check to Prairie State College’s President Dr. Michael Anthony.

“When Prairie State College told my office about their need to re-engage students, grow a state-of-the-art dental hygiene program, and invest in a modern network system to allow for uninterrupted learning, we got to work,” Congresswoman Kelly said in a release.

Prairie State College’s dental hygiene program is an 82-hour program which will result in an Associate in Applied Science degree. The goal of the program is to prepare the student to be employed as a dental hygienist. The program is fully accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation and meets the State of Illinois Board of Dentistry guidelines.

According to Anthony, the dental hygiene program is one of Prairie State College’s more popular healthcare programs. Last year, there were between 40-50 students enrolled in the dental hygiene program.  In the dental assistant program, there were between 15-20 students enrolled. Last semester, the College unveiled its full service, state-of-the-art dental hygiene clinic. The clinic is used to teach students and to service community members. There also is a dental assistant program, which is stackable, and enables students to get their first level of training and get employment and come back later to get a dental hygiene degree.

“We knew we had the capacity to take almost double the number of students, but we had to utilize our simulation lab to do so,” Anthony said. The simulation lab needs major renovation to enable students to get the best training. Once renovations and updates are made to the simulation lab, it can expand the capacity. Because the program is hands-on, more space is needed. The aim is also to help people meet their workforce goals sooner.

“With this grant, we will establish a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory and will provide a safe and controlled environment for students to practice their clinical skills,” Rebecca Buckle, associate professor of the clinical coordinator in the dental hygiene program, said in a release. “The sim lab will enable our students to gain valued hands-on experience, which will increase their confidence and competence in delivering dental hygiene and assisting services and procedures, including preventative care, restorative and periodontal treatments.”

Prairie State College will host its Healthy Smiles Day, which provides free dental care for children ages 3-17, on Saturday, April 22nd. To set up an appointment, call  708-709-3707. On the same day, between 10 a.m. and noon, Prairie State College will host an Open House. At the Open House, people can talk to faculty and students.

For more information about the dental hygiene program, visit https://tinyurl.com/3z67ejtw, and visit prairiestate.edu for more information about Prairie State College.

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