The School of Dentistry golf tournament raises funds for students
Faculty, students, alumni and sponsors teed off for the UT San Antonio School of Dentistry Scholarship Golf Tournament held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. Together, they raised funds for dental student scholarships and spent the day on the course, showing what camaraderie and community support look like.
For Dean Ken Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, the tournament matters more each year. “Right now, with federal policies, we have a reduction in scholarships that are available for professional students,” he said. “So this annual event, which we’ve done for 20 years now, is more important than ever.”
Lightening the load for students
Proceeds support scholarships for dental students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and commitment to serving their communities. For students, that support changes what comes after graduation.
“I think it definitely lightens the financial burden of the tuition,” said second-year dental student Mitchell Iden. “So, leaving school with less debt allows you to focus on giving back to the community instead of focusing on repaying that debt.”
The tournament pairs the next generation of dentists with those already in practice. Third-year dental students Vineet Madur and Joshua Amistoso said they hope to be sponsored to play each year. “We feel like they do a great job of getting a lot of us together to play,” they said. Madur and Amistoso also talked about the people side of dentistry. “We want to be a friendly face in the community and enjoy being around people. You probably interact with thousands of people over the course of your career; it’s nice.”
Sponsors who pay it forward
The tournament depends on sponsors who see it as an investment in the profession’s future. This year’s sponsors include our presenting sponsor, The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation; champion sponsors Bien-Air Dental and Midwest Dental Supply; master sponsor Gerald Crouch, DDS; and tee sponsors, Med-Tech Construction, UBS and J. Lee Pettigrew, DDS.
“It’s really about paying it forward, because the students are the ones that are our future,” said Bill Popek, special markets director at Midwest Dental Supply. “So our connections in the community, whether it’s Texas, Oklahoma or across the country, somebody is looking for an opportunity. We love to pay it forward. We don’t want students to stress out.”
Hargreaves summed up the day: “Not only did we have a good time together, but think about what we did. We changed the lives of dental students. The proceeds from this are going to fund scholarships for students.”
Join us next year: April 24, 2027
The next tournament is set for April 24, 2027. Invest in the future of dentistry by joining a team, becoming a sponsor or sponsoring a student player. Register today!