Scholarships

Willmarth and Marion Paine Scholarship

The Willmarth and Marion Paine Scholarship Fund will award partial scholarships annually to dental students and dental hygiene students. The awards are for one year and the applicants must re-apply for each ensuing year. The recipient's ASDA membership dues will be paid by the Fund during the school year awarded.

Please click this link to apply for the Willmarth and Marion Paine Scholarship for 2025.

In order to be considered for a grant for the school year beginning in the fall of 2025, all requested information must be in our office no later than Friday, May 23, 2025. No applications will be accepted after this date.

Criteria

If you will be beginning your second or later year of dental school, or the second semester or later of dental hygiene school in the school year of 2025-2026, we invite you to apply for scholarship funds. You must also meet the below criteria:

1. Applicant must have been a resident of the Greater Toledo Dental Society geographic area (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams and Wood Counties) a minimum of two years prior to entering dental/dental hygiene school. All applicants must be U.S. citizens.

           “Resident of the Toledo Dental Society geographic area” shall mean:

a. A dependent student, at least one of whose parents or legal guardian has been a resident of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio for all other legal purposes for 12 consecutive months or more immediately preceding the enrollment of such student in dental or dental hygiene school;

b. A person who has resided in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio for all other legal purposes for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding his or her enrollment in dental or dental hygiene school and who is not receiving, and has not directly or indirectly received in the preceding 12 months, financial support from persons who are not residents of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio for all other legal purposes; and/or

c.  A person who is living and is gainfully employed in a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio and who is pursuing a part-time program of instruction at a dental or dental hygiene school.

           A “resident of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio for all other legal purposes” shall mean any person who maintains a 12-month place or places of residence in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, who is qualified as a resident to vote in Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Williams or Wood County, Ohio.

           “Financial support” shall not include grants, scholarships and awards from persons or entities which are not related to the recipient.

2. Applicant must be applying for funds for the second, third or fourth year of education in dental school and the second semester of the first year or for succeeding year(s) of dental hygiene school.

3. Applicant must submit a transcript or statement of scholastic achievement provided by his/her school that includes a cumulative grade point average.

4.  Applicant must submit a financial needs assessment provided by his/her school.

5.  Applicant must be enrolled in an American Dental Association (ASDA) recognized dental or dental hygiene school.

6.  Applicant must submit a Curriculum Vitae that includes ASDA involvement, research, activities, and honors.

Essay

           In 500 words or less, please submit an essay answering the following question: Describe a time in your life when you have faced in ethical dilemma. What did you do and why? Would you change anything about what you chose to do?

Recommendations

Two recommendations are required for those students applying: one recommendation from a dental school instructor and the other from a community leader, professional person (family dentist) or former employer who can vouch for the student’s motivation, attitude, and moral character. Letters from family members are NOT acceptable.

Proof of Parental Residence

           Please include proof of parental residence (copy of their driver's license or state-issued ID).

Please contact us with any questions!

Helms Fund Scholarship

The Helms Fund was created to financially assist recent dental graduates to become established in their practices by funding education events for one year.

If you are a dentist that has graduated from dental school in the last 10 years and are within your first two years of membership in organized dentistry (GTDS/ODA/ADA), please click this link to apply for the Helms Fund Scholarship for 2025.

Benefits include: free attendance to all Roundtables for the year, free attendance to Spring Clinic, reimbursement for hotel fees for ODA's Leadership Institute.

Guidelines:

RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR HELMS FUND

(RECENT GRADUATES SETTING UP PRACTICE) approved 9/16/97, modified 6/22/22

1. Must fit the American Dental Association’s definition of a “new dentist”, which is a dentist who has graduated from dental school in the last 10 years or less.

2. Must be a member of organized dentistry and be within the first two years of their GTDS/ODA/ADA membership.

3. The Fund will provide one-time credit for up to 20 hours of free continuing education at Greater Toledo Dental Society seminars and free admission to Spring Clinic, assisting with the Ohio State Dental Board-mandated continuing education requirement for their biennial renewal.

Please contact us with any questions!