LCCC Dental Hygiene Program Celebrates Class of 2025 and Honors Longtime Educator Julie Cleary on Her Retirement

It was an emotional evening of celebration and reflection as Luzerne County Community College's Dental Hygiene program honored the Class of 2025 during its annual Pinning and Recognition Ceremony -- and bid a heartfelt farewell to a beloved educator.*

After an extraordinary 41-year career, Julie Cleary, Professor of Dental Hygiene, celebrated her final ceremony before retirement. Held at the Educational Conference Center on the LCCC Main Campus in Nanticoke, the event recognized the achievements of both first-year and graduating dental hygiene students, while paying tribute to Cleary's decades of service and mentorship.

The program included the presentation of first-year pins to students completing their initial year of study, graduate pins to the Class of 2025, recognition of class officers, the awarding of Dental Hygiene honors, and the recitation of the Dental Hygiene Pledge. But the highlight of the evening was a moving tribute to Julie Cleary, whose dedication and passion have left a lasting impact on generations of students.

Cleary reflected on her career with gratitude and emotion.

"This has been such a good ride," she shared. "I've worked with amazing students, staff, and faculty. Everyone here at the college has been incredible, and I truly appreciate every moment."

Over the years, Cleary witnessed tremendous growth in the program and the profession.

"Technology has advanced, especially with digital imaging," she said. "There's a greater understanding now of the oral-systemic link in healthcare. It's rewarding to see how dental hygiene has evolved and how our program has kept pace."

Cleary's influence has helped LCCC's Dental Hygiene program become one of the most respected in the state, boasting a 98% first-time pass rate on the national board exam for the past 36 years and a 100% pass rate since 2015 on an additional written exam.

When asked what she'll miss most, she didn't hesitate.

"The students -- always the students," she said with a smile. "Watching them grow has been the best part of this job."

Class President Bryna Soriano of the Class of 2025 delivered heartfelt remarks, thanking the faculty and recognizing the journey she and her classmates shared.

"We've worked so, so hard," Soriano said. "This program has been about more than just academics -- it's been about life. We've gone through haircuts, homes, breakups, car troubles, and so much more. We've learned, grown, and leaned on each other. We'll carry these memories with us forever."

She closed her speech with encouragement to her peers:

"Whether it's national boards, future jobs, or personal goals -- we're ready. And to the future classes: you will feel just as confident as we do. Everything happens for a reason. When opportunity knocks, answer it."

Although retiring from her full-time role, Cleary hopes to remain involved in the program she helped build.

"Maybe I'll teach a course here and there," she said. "And I'll keep in touch --I have all their emails!"

The legacy Julie Cleary leaves behind is not just in the curriculum, the awards, or the program's high success rate -- it's in the lives and careers of the hundreds of dental hygienists she helped mold. And as the Class of 2025 moves forward into their professional journeys, they do so with her guidance, passion, and spirit carried in their hearts.