Kristen Strader

Leveraging First-Class Skills to Give Back

In the fall of 2015, Kristen Strader was awarded the first-ever Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association Student Advocacy Award. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to community advocacy initiatives outside of course requirements.

Throughout her time at Algonquin College as a Dental Hygiene student, and now as a working professional, Kristen continues to advocate for improving oral health for the community. She’s volunteered her dental hygiene skills for the Youth Services Bureau and local community centres where she provided oral health care for children, at-risk youth and seniors. Kristen credits Algonquin College with helping her get started with giving back to the community.

“Through Algonquin, I was not only able to participate in client care, but I also got to go out into the community and provide oral health education,” says Kristen. “By educating the community, it provides a way for individuals and families everywhere to gain a better knowledge of oral health and use the information to live a healthier lifestyle.”

Kristen recognizes that in addition to the skills she gained at Algonquin, her instructors also helped shape her. “The teachers at Algonquin really care about their students and I found they really helped to push us to do our best,” says Kristen. “If we had any problems, we could always go talk one-on-one with an instructor. I found they really helped to polish my skills and give me insight into things I was struggling with.”

Kristen encourages current students and fellow alumni to make sure they never give up on their dreams.

“Algonquin is there every step of the way to help with creating the perfect resume, giving advice on interview skills and posting the latest job opportunities,” says Kristen. “Algonquin College provides you with the skills, connections and confidence to be first-class in your profession.”