Emilia D’Amore Stepped Outside Her Comfort Zone and Into Being Outstanding Graduate
As a dental hygiene student at Owens Community College, Emilia D’Amore quickly learned to step outside of her comfort zone, whether that was in the classroom or all the way in Central America.
D’Amore took a medical mission trip to Chinimachicaj, Guatemala, in January, a trip that helped reinforce her passion for patient-first care. She’ll now take that focus with her as she graduates from Owens in May with her Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
She is the recipient of the Janell B. Lang Outstanding Service Award in Health Professions, which recognizes academic achievement, community and professional service, high professional standards and strengthens the ideals and images of health professions. She also the recipient of the Service and Leadership Scholars award, the Sigma Phi Alpha honors society award and the Community Service Award.
“I had the opportunity to provide care to underserved patients, work alongside healthcare professionals and step outside of the structure of a traditional clinic setting,” D’Amore said of her trip to Guatemala. “It challenged my perspective, deepened my compassion and reminded me why I chose this path in the first place.”
D’Amore came to Owens right after graduating from Eastwood High School in 2022. She spent the first two years completing prerequisite classes before being accepted into the Dental Hygiene program. At first, she was nervous and worried she would fall behind many classmates who already had dental assisting backgrounds.
“I quickly realized that dental hygiene was a challenging journey for everyone and that shared challenge is what brought us all together,” D’Amore said. “Over time, we grew into such a supportive and close-knit group. Now after two years together, it feels bittersweet to be graduating and saying goodbye to such an amazing group of classmates.”
D’Amore also gave credit to adjunct instructor Brittany Moore for her encouragement and confidence. Moore was the one who pushed D’Amore to participate in the medical mission trip.
After graduation, D’Amore plans to begin her career as a dental hygienist.
Learn More About the Dental Hygiene Program
Published May 2026