Student Opportunities

Progressive Dental Scholarship

The Progressive Dental Community Scholarship was established in 1998 to reward area high school seniors interested in pursuing a college education. 

In the last ten years we have donated over $10,000 in funds to over 20 very deserving students.  Progressive Dental has historically been very active in our community.  This stipend was a means of recognizing those students who have displayed community interest as well as exhibit academic excellence.  This scholarship is given to three students who receive $500 each. 

Applications can be obtained from this website, anyone of the 3 office locations or from the guidance office in all of the area schools.  Once completed, the applications can be returned directly to the office or the appropriate contact at the respective school.

Applications may be downloaded below:

2009 Progressive Dental Scholarship Application (Endwell & Conklin)

2009 Progressive Dental Scholarship Application (Norwich)

Click here to see a list of the students who previously were awarded Progressive Dental Scholarships.

Progressive Dental Internships

Since the fall of 2002, Progressive Dental has worked with the School-to-Careers (STC) Partnership at Broome-Tioga BOCES to provide work-based learning opportunities for local high school students interested in a career in dentistry or healthcare.

Through the Youth Apprenticeship Program (YAP), students from participating schools apply and interview for a paid position at each of Progressive Dental’s three locations in Endwell, Conklin & Norwich. Once hired, youth apprentices work 10-20 hours per week during the school year and earn up to five Regents credits over a two-year period. In addition, they may have an opportunity to work during the summer months.

Typically, students rotate through various areas at Progressive Dental, such as office administration, hygiene, and dental lab (Endwell only), giving them valuable hands-on experience in a professional office environment. In each rotation, the student is assigned to a Coach or Mentor who is directly responsible for teaching, supervising and evaluating them. Students also learn marketable job skills (i.e. communication, teamwork, responsibility, etc.) that will benefit them throughout their lifetime.

Each student is required to complete a Senior Project, which is the capstone of the program. This project, presented in a public exhibition, either meets a need or solves a problem for the business and enables the student to demonstrate the skills he/she has gained over the course of the apprenticeship. 

 “The Youth Apprenticeship Program is truly a win-win for all our partners…..the business, the student, the parents, and the school,” said Sandra Watkins, Youth Apprenticeship Program Specialist at Broome-Tioga BOCES. “Dr. Sonny Spera and the staff at Progressive Dental provide a highly skilled work experience for our students and teach them the skills they will need to be successful in their own professional career,” she said.