May 28, 2024
Kyla Buccini missed out on high school commencement due to pandemic, but was able to celebrate her many honors, pay tribute to late professor at Ferris State
Kyla Buccini was valedictorian of her high school in 2020 but missed out on an opportunity to celebrate with classmates due to the pandemic.
Kyla Buccini
But the Dental Hygiene and Allied Health Science alumna made her recent graduation from Ferris State University extra special with a wide variety of colorful sashes, cords, and other regalia draped arounder neck and pinned to her commencement gown, reflecting significant classroom excellence and campus contributions.
Buccini, a native of Grosse Ile, explained that Ferris State’s College of Health Professions commencement ceremony allowed her to participate actively in graduation since a similar celebration could not happen in the same way in 2020.
“I was valedictorian at my high school, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant my class had no face-to-face opportunity to commemorate our achievement,” Buccini said. “I felt I had missed out on so much and that inspired me to join every organization possible at Ferris and have a rich experience.”
Kyla earned her Allied Health Science degree in 2022, with significant involvement her first two years in Ferris State’s Honors program and the Xi Chi Xi chapter of Beta Beta Beta, the national honor society for biological studies.
“I was vice president of ‘TriBeta,’ and was a peer mentor and secretary in the Honors program,” Buccini said. “I do not talk a great deal about my accomplishments, but I went to ceremonies to receive pins this spring and was glad to take some pride in all my associations.”
While completing her second Associate of Applied Science degree, Buccini continued her quest for greater involvement, serving as president of TriBeta, taking on executive board responsibility with the Honors Committee and vice president of the Student American Dental Hygiene Association chapter. Kyla was engaged with Ferris State’s Student Alumni Gold Club and Omicron Delta Kappa, a collegiate leadership honor society.
“Beyond my cap and gown, I had: A Student Alumni Gold Club stole, another for my leadership role with SAHDA, Honors Program cords for my AAS certificate and Summa Cum Laude status, a cord from TriBeta, the Omicron Delta Kappa cord and the last was for my membership in SADHA,” Buccini said.
There was space on the stoles for various pins.
“I received a pin for becoming a registered dental hygienist, an honor pin from Sigma Phi Alpha, the honor society for dental hygiene students, and a Blue Jay pin that I received from Paul Klatt,” she said.
Klatt, a well-known Biological Sciences professor, passed away in late April and was honored at each spring commencement ceremony.
“Paul was the acting advisor for our TriBeta chapter, and I wanted to honor him personally,” Buccini said. “It was part of an almost surreal experience, celebrating eight years of learning and being able to walk the stage, make my parents proud and really feel that moment. I am so pleased with how everything went.”
Buccini expects to clear her board examination that allows her to work as a dental hygienist across the country and anticipates joining the staff of a Grand Rapids dental office in June. Kyla also plans to complete a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene offered by Ferris as she begins her career as a registered dental hygienist.
More than two-thirds of the graduates of Ferris State University and the Kendall College of Art and Design participated in the 2024 commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4.