PSC Dental Hygiene Program Graduates 11 Military Members

Pensacola State College celebrated the graduation of 11 active-duty military service members from its spring 2026 dental hygiene class at a pinning ceremony. Coast Guardsmen Justice Badgley and Melinda Leiva became the first from their service branch to graduate from the program.

Sarah Reed, a Navy service member and president of PSC's Student American Dental Hygienists' Association chapter, told her classmates that dental hygiene school proved far harder than expected. "Every single person sitting here today has worked incredibly hard to be here," Reed said.

Capt. Carol Wong, chief of operational medicine in the Coast Guard dental program, attended the ceremony. "The Coast Guard's partnership with Pensacola State College is a worthwhile endeavor," Wong said.

PSC operates one of only three dental hygiene programs in the United States that educates active-duty military personnel.

Jewell Pearcey received the Colgate Star Award. Esther Looney earned the Golden Scaler Award, which Hu-Friedy has sponsored for more than 40 years. Diamond Diggs, Megan Dunne, Melinda Leiva and Jordan Spitsbergen were nominated for the award.

Reed won the Leadership Award. Spitsbergen received the Program Scholar Award and a Scholastic Achievement Award. Maggie Bankston also earned a Scholastic Achievement Award. Juliana Chesser won the Service Award, and Leiva received the Outstanding Volunteer Award.

The PSC chapter of the Student American Dental Hygienists' Association won the college's 2026 Student Organization of the Year Award.

District Board of Trustees Chair Gordon Sprague noted the students' respect for faculty. "I will long remember how much you applauded your staff when they were introduced today," Sprague said. "That's unusual and special."

Pinning ceremonies mark the transition from student to professional in healthcare fields, separate from graduation exercises. The graduates will receive their diplomas at commencement.