Dentist Number Eight

CSUF McCarthy Award Winner Is From a Family of Dentists

May 16, 2008 :: No. 266

"My mom started to cry when she heard. I was told that the award always goes to a medical student, and I'm going to be a dentist, so I had no idea I could get it," said Evan Kania, who will be honored this evening with the Miles D. McCarthy Health Professions Award from California State University, Fullerton. It is one of the highest awards the university gives to graduating students.

Evan Kania

Kania will be among the nearly 10,000 eligible to take part in the university's commencement ceremonies May 17-18.

"It's such a cool award to get!" he said of the award honoring the late faculty member and architect of the university's Health Professions Program. The award is presented annually to an outstanding student who demonstrates high academic achievement, integrity and a commitment to serve humanity.

While earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average in his biological science studies, the Redlands resident passed the training and education regimen to become a California State Lifeguard, and began working at Lake Perris in the Inland Empire. There he saw and dealt with nearly everything, including burns, broken bones, drownings, deaths by other causes and paralysis.

Then he heard that the California Department of Water Resources wanted to start a swimming camp for underserved kids in cities located along the State Water Project, where drowning is highest among at-risk youth. Kania joined in the effort to start the Aquatic Adventure Camp.

Two years and 300 volunteer hours later, the camp is running two two-week sessions for approximately 40 youngsters each summer, providing daily instruction in water safety, sailing, kayaking, CPR, physical fitness and one overnight camping experience at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area.

"We gave them an overnight campout so they could experience that," Kania said, "and we taught them about water safety, swimming, how to conduct themselves. We had to arrange the transportation . well, we had to arrange everything. It was great for the kids. We loved it."

Kania also has been heavily involved on campus as the program coordinator and dental chair of the Student Health Professions Association, organizing blood drives, working in a soup kitchen on L.A.'s Skid Row and replanting native species in Newport Bay.

"I didn't do all this to win an award," Kania said, "but because it was just right. I have my family as an example."

Kania's service-oriented family includes six dentists, a cousin entering dental school this fall and another graduating from dental school this year. His older sister just graduated from law school, and his father is a clinical and forensic psychologist with his own practice.

Peter de Lijser, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in his letter supporting Kania for the McCarthy Award, echoed Miller's assessment: "It was very clear that Evan wanted to do well [in my organic chemistry] course, but, unlike many other students, he was interested in actually learning and understanding the material, rather than just memorizing and hoping to get by. He has a great attitude toward education, and he seems like a caring person."

Most of the dentists in the family went to USC, Kania said, "So it didn't surprise them when I said I would be a dentist - I decided that when I was 12 - but I did surprise them by being a California Kania and deciding to go out of state for dental school. I will be attending the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, starting next fall."

Photos: Available online at www.fullerton.edu/newsphotos

Media Contacts:
Russ L. Hudson, Public Affairs, 657-278-4007 or rhudson@fullerton.edu

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