More than 170 alumni and over 265 people in total came to Lincoln from more than 22 states on Oct. 9-10 to take part in the UNMC College of Dentistry’s 2026 Alumni Weekend.
Honor classes for this year’s alumni event were those with graduation years ending in “1” or “6”, but attendees spanned the Class of 1965 to the Class of 2026.
In addition, the Class of 1976 was inducted into the Half Century Club. Members of the class, including dentists and dental hygienists, were recognized as they celebrated 50 years since graduation.
The weekend included a “State of the College” presentation from Dean Gerard Kugel, DMD, PhD, who spoke about new initiatives and future priorities at the UNMC College of Dentistry, as well as the college’s jump in extramural research funding in 2025.
Dean Kugel also addressed the significant decrease in state support for the college. With state appropriations covering a shrinking share of the college’s operating costs, he said, private philanthropy has become essential to sustaining the college’s mission, from student scholarships and clinical education to research and care for underserved communities across Nebraska.
“Our alumni have always been the foundation of this college,” Dr. Kugel said. “As state support declines, your generosity is what allows us to recruit outstanding students, help keep their debt manageable and continue providing the education and patient care Nebraska depends on. Every gift, at every level, makes a real difference.”
Other activities included:
- Continuing education from Jim Jenkins, DDS, of the UNMC College of Dentistry and Marty Wolff, DDS, of the Creighton School of Dentistry, both UNMC alumni;
- Tours of the college led by current students, with the opportunity to view artifacts from the history collection of Stan Harn, PhD, curator of the college’s Dental Museum;
- The alumni reunion celebration; and
- A tailgate prior to the Indiana at Nebraska football game.
Reunion attendees raised nearly $5,000 for student support just through the registration process, said Catherine Mello, executive director of UNMC Alumni Engagement.
The weekend also featured an awards ceremony for the 2026 College of Dentistry Alumni Award Recipients. They are:
Honorary Alumnus Awards
- Mark Beatty, DDS, MSE, MS, MSD
- Kim Theesen
Outstanding Educator Award
- Robert A. Schoettger, DDS ’81, MS
Distinguished Service Award
- James Free, DDS ’74
Alumni Achievement Award
- Corinne M. Van Osdel, DDS ’19
