Scholarship recipient aims to be everyone’s favorite dentist

Olivia Annunziata Blaisdell couldn’t quite believe it when her friends told her they hated going to the dentist. She was a stranger to needles and numb lips, and her dentist was super cool. 

So, at 8 years old, she made up her mind: “I said, ‘I’m going to be everybody’s favorite dentist, and you’re all going to come to me,’” said Olivia, who began pursuing her dream this fall at Cornell University. 

At 8 years old, Olivia also moved to the affluent coastal city of Portsmouth from working-class Manchester, bringing with her a perspective on class and privilege that further shaped her ambitions. As a teenager, she got involved with social justice initiatives at her school and began volunteering, then interning, at a community clinic that offers affordable dental care. 

“I want to take my passion for justice and social equity and work that into my future plans of being in dentistry,” said Olivia, who plans to major in Human Biology, Health and Society at Cornell. “Treating young kids with cavities in every tooth and no insurance touches my heart and drive for better health equity and support for disadvantaged populations.” 

Although Olivia has been saving for college pretty much since she settled on a dentistry career, she knows she has a long road ahead. She was thrilled last July to receive a Granite Edvance Scholarship to help pay the bills.  

“Getting scholarships like this is extremely important to me because I can save money now and use it in the future,” she said. 

Read more about our scholarship here!

Want to stay up-to-date on all our news and events? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn!