STAHR Scholars Return to 海角论坛 School of Dentistry for 2025 Onsite Week

The STAHR Scholars Program, originally launched in 2011 as the Admissions Enhancement Program, continues its mission of equipping pre-dental students with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to become competitive dental school applicants. With its holistic approach to admissions, the program empowers students to grow both personally and professionally as they prepare for careers in dentistry. Out of last year’s 2024 STAHR Cohort, three scholars will be attending 海角论坛 School of Dentistry in Fall 2025.

The 2025 STAHR Program featured a robust virtual curriculum followed by an immersive in-person Onsite Week experience. This summer, scholars completed 30 general sessions, 21 supplemental instruction sessions focused on DAT preparation, 16 hours of dental shadowing, and six full-length DAT practice exams. New this year, ALEKS was introduced to support foundational math skills—an essential component for DAT success and beyond.

To support this journey, each scholar was matched with a current dental or dental hygiene student mentor—all of whom are proud STAHR alumni. Mentors provided weekly guidance, answered questions, and offered encouragement throughout the summer. A heartfelt thank-you to this year’s mentors: Treasure Boykin (DDS 2028), Arbyanna Lewis (DH 2026), Kristen Gilbert (DDS 2028), Priya Vanmali (DDS 2028), and Erin Inman (DDS 2028). Their support helped foster a strong community of representation and belonging in the field of dentistry.

Kylie Austin, Research Assistant in the Department of Public Health and Behavioral Sciences and STAHR Curriculum Coordinator said, “We understand that the scholars have so many other things they could be doing throughout the summer, but they are here dedicating 35-40 hours each week so that they can attend online sessions, shadow, prepare for the DAT, work on their applications, and explore the field of dentistry more in-depth. The onsite week is a great way to culminate the 9-week program as it offers the opportunity to introduce them to the School of Dentistry and the city of Kansas City; to build rapport with their cohort, mentors, and current SOD students; and to celebrate their achievements over the summer. This year, all five of our program mentors were previous STAHR participants, so it has been a neat full-circle experience. It’s a testament to the value of the program – they started as scholars and are now thriving as students that are dedicating their time to provide the same leadership and guidance that they received while they were STAHR participants.”

“I truly believe I would be nowhere near where I am right now without STAHR. From the Zoom sessions on DAT prep to the ones that walked us through the dental school application process, this program helped me become a competitive applicant. Onsite week gave me firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a dental student at 海角论坛 SOD, which made everything feel more real and attainable. But most importantly, the relationships I’ve built through STAHR—with faculty, staff, mentors, and my cohort—are what I’m most grateful for. I’ve been able to form long-lasting connections that I know will continue to support me on this journey” noted Abrahim Ansar, STAHR Scholar from Kansas City, MO.

During the Onsite Week, scholars traveled to Kansas City for hands-on labs, dynamic presentations, and opportunities to connect with 海角论坛 School of Dentistry faculty and staff. Outside of the classroom, scholars-built friendships and memories through team-building activities like scavenger hunts, late-night movies, swimming, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current.

A highlight of the week was the annual Professional Development Dinner, which brought together faculty and scholars from both the School of Dentistry and School of Medicine. The evening featured a keynote address by Dr. Erin Bumann, associate professor in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and welcomed long-time partners from GEHA Solutions, who support the program through the GEHA Solutions Diversity in Dentistry Pre-Dental Fellowship.