EFDA Student takes ‘Big Step’ to Become First-generation Latino College Graduate

February 1, 2021 Youngwood, Pa.

Emigdio Rincon knew he wanted to be a dentist when he was about 13-years old and he went with his sister to have a tooth extracted.

“She was very scared,” he said. “The dentist made her feel better and I saw that...after her tooth extraction she laughed. And in that moment it hit me. I was like, I want to be that person and make them smile again.”

Rincon, who is 33 and the youngest of five children, grew up in Dallas, Texas and attended community college there for a short time as he set out to live his dream. 

“If you graduated from high school, or if you even made it through high school, it was a big deal,” Rincon said. “But for me, I wanted to do something better and bigger.”

However, his parents, who migrated from Mexico, would need his help. When his father lost his job and his mother became ill, Rincon had to quit college to help his family pay the bills. He got a job as a dental assistant and eventually became an expanded functions dental assistant.

“My dream was to become a dentist but unfortunately that didn't happen. That's how I came to be in the dental field,” Rincon said. “I just started working and just never thought about going back to school until I moved here and decided to better myself and do something about it.”

Rincon moved to Pittsburgh about five years ago. After a few years of working at a local dental practice, he enrolled in the Expanded Functions Dental Assisting (EFDA) certificate program at Westmoreland. Because certification requirements in Pennsylvania are different than in Texas, Rincon needed to complete the program in order to work as an expanded functions dental assistant in Pennsylvania.

The Westmoreland program helps registered dental hygienists or dental assistants climb the career ladder by providing the necessary education to broaden their scope of practice. 

“It was a big step for me and I’m really proud of myself,” Rincon said. He continued to work full-time while completing the program.

“I was at work from 7:30 to 4, went to school until close to 10 o'clock, and then would turn around and do it again,” he said. There were times he felt it was all too much and wanted to give up. 

“My partner helped me to get through it because he was there, and he was pushing me to study and do homework and do all these things,” Rincon said. “It was really hard at times, but when I got to see everybody else at Westmoreland, it was better for me because there were people my age and a little bit older there.”

He also credits program director Rhonda Soberdash with helping him succeed.

“She took her time and helped all of us individually. She knew we were in school. She knew we were at work. She knew we were busy so she worked with all of our schedules to help everyone,” he said. “She was very detailed and understanding.”

Soberdash, who recently received the Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Teaching Award, wrote about Rincon in her Best Teaching Experience Narrative.

“This student reminded me of how we change lives as educators,” she said.

Rincon graduated from Westmoreland in December and he has just started a new job as an Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. He is the first person in his family to graduate from college.

“A first-generation Latino college graduate, it was a big thing,” Rincon said.

His family was not able to celebrate in person with him, though. So he took pictures wearing his cap, gown and sash and he sent them to his parents.

“When they got them we FaceTimed and they were crying,” Rincon said. “They were super excited and super happy.”