North Idaho College Dental Hygiene Program celebrates second graduating class

North Idaho College celebrated the graduation of 15 Dental Hygiene students Dec. 11 during a pinning ceremony at the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center on NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus.

The graduation featured a variety of speakers for the second graduating class including NIC Dental Hygiene Program Director Janis McClelland, NIC President Nick Swayne, members of the local dental community and more.

"I have complete confidence in the faculty and administrators of NIC's Dental Hygiene Program and look forward to recruiting here for years to come,” John Pulsipher of Riverstone Dental Care said. “My partners and I were thrilled that four NIC-based graduates accepted job offers (at Riverstone Dental Care)."

Pulsipher said the demand for dental hygienists has driven wages nationwide, with new graduates in North Idaho earning $50 per hour, up from $32 an hour in 2008.

The next cohort of NIC dental hygiene students starts in January. The program admits students every other year with the next application cycle opening in June 2026 for enrollment in January 2027.

"NIC is not just building careers,” McClelland said. “It’s strengthening the health care fabric of North Idaho.”

    From left, North Idaho College Dental Hygiene graduates Alexis Jordan, Alyssa Drummond, Kalli Cooper, Sonya Prindle, Jessie Renner, Lauren Morgan, Angelea Chambers, Brooke Ford, Reanna Martinez, Julissa Delka, Shaylie Gordon, Bailey Scribner, Kelly Stubbers, Emily Diaz and Bayleigh Stockton celebrate on stage Wednesday during graduation in the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center.