Northeast Delta Dental has funded a scholarship program that helps dental hygiene students pay for vital educational supplies and related fees. The $250,000 grant is administered through The Foundation for NH Community Colleges, the charitable entity that provides needed support for students at NHTI-Concord’s Community College.
“Students pay more than $9,000 for expenses beyond tuition in their second year of the dental hygiene program,” said department chair Billie Lunt. “Often, this means they must work additional hours, rather than focusing on their studies.”
Lunt shared that financial pressure is a leading cause for students to struggle in this highly competitive program. “The Northeast Delta Dental grant empowered us to remove this barrier for many students,” explained Lunt.
The innovative scholarship program helps offset the cost of instruments, uniforms, supplies, licensure exam fees, and other out-of-pocket expenses for second- and third-year students. To be eligible for funds, students must demonstrate financial need, maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5, and live in New Hampshire.
“The scholarship is very much appreciated as I pursue more opportunities for myself and my family through this career path,” wrote one student who returned to college after spending many years working with the elderly. For this student, paying for extra supplies while raising a family would have been a significant challenge.
Northeast Delta Dental provided $100,000 of the total gift in late spring and 23 students enrolled in the program have already benefited. The balance of this initial funding will be directed in the spring of 2026 to assist third-year students with licensure fees.
“These students will enter the workforce and help meet the significant demand for dental hygienists,” said NHTI president Patrick Tompkins. “We are grateful for our partnership with Northeast Delta Dental whose generous investment immediately benefits New Hampshire students.”
“NHTI is an important partner in our mission to improve access to dental care,” explained Tom Raffio, President and CEO, Northeast Delta Dental. “We are committed to finding avenues to reduce barriers for these students so that they can pursue their careers and assist in meeting the needs of members of our community seeking dental care.”
NHTI offers the only dental hygiene program in New Hampshire that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Over the next three years, the college is expected to graduate almost 125 dental hygiene students, most of whom will remain in the Granite State to meet the continuing need for dental services. Learn more about NHTI’s 70+ academic programs at nhti.edu.
