Dental Hygiene Graduates Honored at Pinning Ceremony
Published on May 19, 2026
Lake Land College recognized its latest class of dental hygiene graduates at an annual pinning ceremony. During the ceremony, all graduates were recognized for completing the program, and several students received awards for outstanding academic performance.
Carlei Sapp of Terre Haute received the Colgate Student Total Achievement Recognition (STAR) Award, which is presented to a graduating student who shows excellence and commitment to the hygiene profession and exhibits extraordinary compassion in patient care.
Maci Tonn of Edgewood and Payton Sehy of Effingham both received the Best Dental Hygienist Award, which was voted on by students in the program.
Megan Denney of Terre Haute received the Golden Scaler Award for demonstrating advanced skills in instrumentation.
Meredith Gillard of Albion and Laney Wright of Charleston were both recognized for receiving the Linda Lee Fletcher Memorial Scholarship, presented annually to two outstanding Lake Land College dental hygiene students, earlier this year.
The following graduates received their pins during the ceremony.
| Name | Hometown |
| Andrea Bailey | Wheeler, Ill. |
| Jada Cobb | Mattoon, Ill. |
| Christina Crain | West Lafayette, Ind. |
| Megan Denney | Terre Haute, Ind. |
| Meredith Gillard | Albion, Ill. |
| Kaitlynn Hancock | O’Fallon, Ill. |
| Jenna Hoyt | Louisville, Ill. |
| Mackenzie Hutchings | Paris, Ill. |
| Tori Linnenkamp | Universal, Ind. |
| Katelyn Littleton | Paris, Ill. |
| Alexis McClure | Taylorville, Ill. |
| Jessi Mezo | Mulberry Grove, Ill. |
| Kaylie Miller | Montrose, Ill. |
| Sofia Nuzzo | Sullivan, Ill. |
| Fanya Perez | Plainfield, Ill. |
| Victoria Raguso | Effingham, Ill. |
| Carlei Sapp | Terre Haute, Ind. |
| Jaden Scott | Robinson, Ill. |
| Payton Sehy | Effingham, Ill. |
| Paris Swearingen | Charleston, Ill. |
| Maci Tonn | Edgewood, Ill. |
| Alyssa Trexler | Bingham, Ill. |
| Ellie Waymoth | Effingham, Ill. |
| Laney Wright | Charleston, Ill. |
Pictured (from left to right): Maci Tonn, Lacy Huddleston and Payton Sehy.
Pictured (from left to right): Meredith Gillard, Lacy Huddleston and Laney Wright.
Dental Hygiene is a special admission program at Lake Land College. The program prepares students with specialized skills necessary for employment as a dental hygienist. Emphasis is on dental hygiene treatment and on the hygienist’s abilities as a dental health educator. The hygienist’s services are sought by dentists, schools, prisons, hospitals, departments of health and industry. The dental hygiene program is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.