Kathleen Karwoski, of Oak Forest, is one of five alumni inducted into the 2016 Alumni Hall of Fame at Moraine Valley Community College.
“Winning this award means a great deal,” Karwoski said. “It is humbling that I am recognized by the college that has helped me achieve success in my profession. After the initial shock, I was thrilled and honored to be considered part of such a distinguished group.”
Karwoski completed science classes at Moraine Valley and the dental hygiene program at Prairie State College, has been a registered dental hygienist for more than 30 years. She created the Dental Personnel Placement Service, a temporary and permanent placement service for auxiliary dental staffing; and has coordinated dental seminars for more than 200 professionals bi-annually. She also has been a clinical instructor for more than 15 years.
Her philanthropic endeavors include providing dental service for pediatric patients through Healthy Smiles, fundraising efforts for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, and volunteer work with Special Olympics, Peoples Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Tender Loving Care (TLC) Animal Shelter, Smiles from the Heart, and Misericordia. Karwoski also has served on dental committees for Proctor and Gamble, 3M, and Phillips, as well served on the board for the Illinois State Dental Society for Allied Dental Personnel and the 3M Council for Innovative Dental Hygiene
“We welcome Kathleen to the Alumni Hall of Fame,” said Patricia Trebe, assistant director of annual giving and alumni relations at the Moraine Valley Foundation. “Kathleen is like many Moraine Valley students who come here after being out of the educational environment. From that foundation grew a lifelong learner and now an educator. Kathleen has taken her skills as a dental hygienist and helped hundreds of young students as an instructor and as a professional. In addition, she is a very successful business owner.”
In addition to Karwoski, the newest members are Gina Leahy, of Justice; Dr. Daniel Geiter, of Chicago; Nicole Selvaggio, of Oak Lawn; and Keith Karlson of Chicago.
