Eve Hollar: WPCC Opened Doors, Gave Me A Family of Friends
Morganton, NC— Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) graduate Eve Hollar will attest that life has some funny ways to change even the best plans. After graduating from St. Stephens High School in Hickory in the Spring of 1978, Eve set her mind to becoming a dental hygienist. After all, her mom was a dental assistant and the hygienist option just felt right to Eve. But fate stepped in: she was not accepted into her chosen program at the local school. Maybe dental assisting was meant to be her path to success as it was for her Mother.
That is when Western Piedmont began opening doors for Eve. As the closest school offering a dental assisting program, WPCC became her chosen way to her new career. During the next year, Eve found a diverse family of friends in her program.
“During those short months of training, I developed a very close relationship to my classmates,” Eve shared. “Our backgrounds were very different: some young, some with families and a few older classmates who were preparing for second careers. But those differences didn’t matter. We looked out for each other.”
The bonds of friendship can become even stronger in the face of tragedy.
“One of our fellow classmates died in a terrible car crash during the time of our training,” she explained. “We were devastated at the senseless loss of life. I think we became even closer in dealing with the loss together. I will always remember the support our class received from our WPCC professors and from the doctors with whom we were interning.”
Eve’s time at WPCC brought a lot of happiness too with her family of friends.
“I became close friends with one of the girls in my program,” Eve said. “I value her friendship so much that I named by daughter Sara after her!”
Since her graduation from WPCC in 1979, Eve has thrived in her career as a dental assistant.
“For about 10 years I worked in a pediatric dentistry practice,” she related. “Because I had my own dental problems as a child, I liked assisting children in the dental office. I understood their fears and could gain their trust.”
For the past 25 years, Eve has served in the same practice in Hickory. Originally owned by Dr. Larry Holt, the practice is now owned by Dr. Joshua Millsaps. The office provides general, esthetic, and restorative dentistry.
Eve knows she made the right decision to become a dental assistant.
“During my internships at WPCC, I had the opportunity to work with several local dentists,” she offered. “One of them was particularly demanding of me. A few years after my graduation, this dentist called me to ask if I would fill in temporarily for one of his assistants. During that time, he asked if I was planning to stay in dental assisting. He went on to tell me that I was very good at my position and that it would be a shame for me to ever change career paths. That was a very meaningful moment in my life, and one that I will not forget.”
WPCC’s Dental Assisting diploma program prepares individuals to assist the dentist in the delivery of dental treatment and to function as integral members of the dental team while performing chairside and related office and laboratory procedures. Graduates may be eligible to take the Dental Assisting National Board Examination to become Certified Dental Assistants. As a Dental Assistant II, defined by the Dental Laws of North Carolina, graduates work in dental offices and other related areas. To learn more about WPCC’s program, please contact Tammy Glover, program coordinator, at (828) 448-3545.
Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. The application due date for new students for Summer semester is Friday, May 1. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont Campus to apply in person.