Rudy Oxendine receives scholarship from the Society of American Indian Dentists and Crest/Oral B.

Greenville, NC, July 9, 2018—Rudy Oxendine, a second-year student at the ECU School of Dental Medicine, has received a scholarship sponsored by Crest/Oral B and distributed by the Society of American Indian Dentists (SAID) for the 2018-2019 school year.

Mr. Oxendine, who is originally from Rowland, N.C., earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from East Carolina University in 2009. He is a student member of the Society of American Indian Dentists and a member of the Lumbee Tribe. He served as a police officer with the Greenville Police Department from 2003 until entering dental school in 2017.

Dental students Rudy Oxendine (at right) and Brianna Chavis-Locklear (at left) were presented with scholarships at the Society of American Indian Dentists Annual Conference at the University of Washington, June 20-24, 2018. The students are pictured with Winifred J. Booker, DDS, president of the Society of American Indian Dentists.

He now serves as the dental school’s Class of 2021 representative to the American Student Dental Association, and he is an active member of the Student National Dental Association. He traveled to Seattle, WA, in June to receive the scholarship at the 2018 Society of American Indian Dentists Annual Conference. He and his wife, Tina, are the parents of a 6-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son.

“I am extremely grateful for this scholarship and for all forms of assistance that I have received in dental school, including financial assistance, advice, mentorship and friendship,” said Oxendine. “These things have all led me to this point and ever closer to a dream.”

“Rudy is a passionate, caring individual who had an outstanding career serving the public prior to dental school. His passion for helping others continues to shine through and will be evident as he works to improve the oral health of North Carolinians and fulfill the mission of the ECU School of Dental Medicine,” said Dr. Margaret Wilson, the dental school’s vice dean and associate dean for Student Affairs.

During his fourth-year of dental school, Oxendine and his classmates will gain hands-on experience treating patients during their rotations at the school’s eight community service learning centers in rural areas across North Carolina, including a center in Robeson County near Pembroke. He plans to remain in eastern North Carolina to practice dentistry.