Mendota dentist awarded $105k grant to repay student loans

The California Dental Association Foundation awarded a Mendota dentist its Student Loan Repayment Grant totaling up to $105,000 over three years.

Sonia Relingo, who graduated from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C., in 2013, received the grant in exchange for a commitment to practice in an underserved community.

She said her goal has always been to provide care to the underserved in her community.

“My entire desire for dentistry has been molded by the fact that I would love to provide community dentistry and care for the underserved, and a grant like this will allow me to work with that population,” said Relingo, who is currently employed at the United Health Center in Mendota, where she provides full-time dental care.

In addition to her grant, Osvaldo Amezcua received the Webb Family Grant worth $5,000.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Mendota dentist awarded $105k grant to repay student loans."