![\"Hannah](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.udmercy.edu\/campusconnection\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/106\/2021\/10\/Hannah-Benford_1.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1\")
Hannah Benford is only a few months into her undergraduate career at University of Detroit Mercy, but already has her eyes set on a bright future.<\/p>\nHannah Benford is only a few months into her undergraduate career at University of Detroit Mercy, but already has her eyes set on a bright future.<\/p>\n
The Biology student from Bay City, Mich., dreams of one day becoming a dentist and owning her own practice. When the time comes, she hopes to continue her education at Detroit Mercy\u2019s School of Dentistry.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to become the best dentist I can be,\u201d Benford said.<\/p>\n
Benford has already taken strides to achieve this goal. She gained invaluable experience in dentistry during high school, working as an assistant at the dental office where her mother and uncle are employed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was honestly pretty awesome,\u201d Benford said. \u201cIt was nice, because I had the family connection, but I also had the boss-to-coworker connection. I wasn\u2019t really treated like my uncle\u2019s niece or my mom\u2019s daughter. I was treated like their coworker and I really enjoyed that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dentistry isn\u2019t Benford\u2019s only passion; she loves volunteering and giving back to the community. She finished her high school career with 400 community service hours, aided younger students as a tutor and was active in her church while growing up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just most enjoy giving back and seeing the satisfaction of the people after I finish helping them,\u201d Benford said.<\/p>\n
Detroit Mercy appealed to Benford because of a family connection \u2014 her uncle and two cousins attended the University \u2014 and its close-knit McNichols Campus. She also earned a sizable scholarship from Detroit Mercy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came from a really small school. I went and toured University of Michigan and Michigan State University, and they were too big for me. And Detroit Mercy, the furthest walk is like 10 minutes, so that\u2019s why I liked it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In addition to her studies, Benford works as a student assistant in the Office of the President, where she aids Detroit Mercy President Antoine M. Garibaldi and his staff by answering phones, filing paperwork and helping around the office. The role allows Benford to meet Detroit Mercy students and employees, and she\u2019s even able to foster a lasting connection with Garibaldi.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Garibaldi and I, we have some one-on-one time, so I really like that,\u201d Benford said. \u201cI think it\u2019s nice, because he helped me pick out a lot of my teachers. And I was having some issues with getting in the swing of things, so he really helped me with that too.\u201d<\/p>\n