Paragon Award

The Paragon Award is the highest award given by the Association. It recognizes excellence in clinical practice, advocacy on behalf of students, contributions to the lives of dental students, innovations in progressing dental education and dedication to organized dentistry. The honor is awarded as merited and the recipient is chosen by unanimous vote by the Board of Trustees. Only ASDA national leaders can submit nominations. It is presented at ASDA’s Annual Session.

Legislative Liaison of the Year

This award honors an outstanding legislative liaison in motivating and organizing his/her chapter in the legislative arena and getting the chapter involved in advocacy efforts and events. The LGN selects the winner based on nominations from the Regional Legislative Coordinators. The award is presented at National Dental Student Lobby Day.

Ideal LGN Chapter

This award honors outstanding achievements by an ASDA chapter in serving the association on a local and national level. The winning chapter is selected based on involvement in activities such as ADPAC drives, participation in national and state lobby days, legislative lunch and learns, legislative articles written, among others. The award is presented at National Dental Student Lobby Day.

2011 Award Winner Application - University of Minnesota

 2012 Application

ASDA/Crest Oral-B Community Dentistry Awards

These awards are presented to ASDA chapters for their excellence in designing and implementing oral health programs with groups that lack access to oral health education and dental care. Certificates of recognition will be given to participating chapters and awards will be presented to first, second and third place winners at ASDA’s Annual Sessions. In addition, each District that has 100% of their chapters participating in this program will receive $500 towards District activities.

ASDA presents numerous awards to recognize the efforts of our individual members and our chapters. Below is a description of each of the awards. Download the applications to view the full criteria for each award.

Download the application.

Award of Excellence

This award honors the spirit of volunteerism by recognizing one member from each dental school for achieving superior levels of participation or leadership in service to other students, their school or local community. Winners are selected by their school administration and each recipient receives a certificate of recognition.

Faculty and Advocate Awards

These awards recognize individuals who have shown a commitment to dental students and organized dentistry. The Faculty Award acknowledges these qualities in faculty members of dental schools. The Advocate Award acknowledges a commitment to ASDA and involvement in organized dentistry by a person who is not a faculty member of a dental school. Chapter delegates are sent the nomination forms in spring and are encouraged to select recipients for each award. Each recipient receives a certificate of recognition.