HUDSON – The Wilbur Palmer Center at Alvirne High School has accepted a $70,000 donation from Northeast Delta Dental to support the implementation of a Certified Dental Assisting program.

Considered one of the largest donations in the Palmer Center’s history, the contribution is set to put the facility in an elite category as one of just two high schools, along with the Hugh Gallen Center at Littleton High School, in New Hampshire to offer a full dental assisting program. The funds are set to be used immediately, as students won’t need to wait long to utilize the new program according to CTE Director Eric Frauwirth.

“We anticipate having the first group of students eligible to sit for the certification exam before they graduate in 2025,” said Frauwirth.

The program will be available to students in the second year of their health and human services track. It expands the Palmer Center’s options beyond the current offerings, which include a Licensed Nursing Assistant program, medical assisting and pharmacy technology.

“It has been our ongoing goal to expand the health and human services program beyond nursing,” said Frauwirth. “Last year, we added a human services pathway, and this grant allows us to further expand those offerings to attract a wider array of students from the area.”

“There is an acute shortage in Northern New England of dental assistants,” said Jennifer McGrath, senior manager of Corporate Giving at Northeast Delta Dental. “This program will address that shortage and provide a future career path for interested students.”