Vinson Orthodontics Scholarship Program
The Vinson Orthodontics Scholarship program awards an annual non-renewable $500 scholarship. Applicants must be current patients or have completed orthodontic treatment at Vinson Orthodontics. Applications will be accepted from present or previous patients planning to attend or attending an institution of higher learning for at least one year. If you are eligible and interested, please email us at scholarships@vinsonorthodontics.com to request information and an application.
Deadline is June 10, 2013!!
Congratulations to our 2012 Vinson Orthodontics $500 Scholarship Winner: Allysa Clagett!!
Allysa graduated from East Wake High School of Arts Education and Global Studies in the top 4% of her class. She is an avid dancer participating in various jazz and ballet productions. Allysa will attend North Carolina State University in the fall where she earned a spot on the prestigious NCSU Dance Team.
"How My Smile Has Affected My Life"
by Allysa Clagett
My smile has affected my life dramatically. I have been under the care of Doctor Vinson for almost six years and ever since the day I sat in his chair I knew that having a beautiful, bright smile was important.
As a dancer, performance is everything. The way one looks when they dance changes the effect of the entire work, especially the way one smiles. My smile has helped me go far in my dancing career. The way I use my smile in performance has awarded me many featured solos and character parts in Cary Ballet’s productions. I have had the pleasure to be casted as the crazy chef in The Little Mermaid, and the goofy step sister from Cinderella; and in more elegant roles such as the Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, and the Diamond in Rhythms of the Rain Forest. My smile has also helped me perform to my best during multiple Scholarship Auditions to the University of Arizona’s “Jazz Week” as well as The Joffery Ballet’s summer intensive auditions. Most recently, my huge, peppy smile has helped me receive a spot on the North Carolina State University Dance Team, who placed third in the nation for their hip hop routine this past April. The photographer for Cary Ballet once said while photographing me during a show, “You can only perform that dance with a smile like that”. The owner of my dance studio, Suzanne Clark, calls me her “sunshine girl” because she says that every time I walk through the door my smile brightens everyone’s day like sunshine in the morning.
Also, because I work in retail, a bright, beautiful smile is extremely important to my success as a sales associate. My smile actually helped me get hired because my bosses saw my enthusiasm through my smile. As an employee, customer service is most important and is directly related to smiling at your customers. Many people have said that my charisma was the reason why they bought shoes that day and I attribute that to the smile that Vinson Orthodontics has helped me achieve.
My smile has also helped me be a better friend. Over the years, my friends have gone through a lot and when they do not feel like smiling, I seem to be able to smile enough for the both of us until they feel better. The advice I always give is that smiling is the best medicine, even if it is fake at first, sooner than later it will become real and you will feel so much better. Especially if you have been blessed with a Vinson Orthodontic’s smile!
Last impressions are important and as a recent high school graduate I love the fact that multiple people have told me that the thing they will remember most about me is my smile. After being in the care of Dr. Vinson, my awareness of how important a straight and beautiful smile has been raised, and I have gained the knowledge of how it can dramatically affect myself and those around me.
Congratulations to our 2011 Vinson Orthodontics $500 Scholarship Winner: Jimmy A. Joyner , Jr!!
Jimmy currently has a unweighted GPA of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale at Cary Academy. While currently taking a most demanding curriculum at Cary Academy, he continues to participate in many clubs and sports. He will be attending UNC-Asheville. Good Luck Jimmy!!
“What is the greatest challenge your generation will face and what ideas do you have for dealing with it?”
By Jimmy A Joyner, Jr.
“There are many challenges that my generation will face, but one that is very important is the aftermath that the natural disasters may leave. It seems as though natural disasters occur every week. The power of these disasters is unbelievable. Looking at the aftermath it’s hard to believe that anything can be done to help these people because their whole lives have been changed with the loss of everything. There’s no way to necessarily deal with the problem of these natural disasters, but being there for one another in the times of the aftermath is a great way to help. Support for one another is something that we need to do in these times. Support can come in many different ways: through cash donations, personally going and aiding, spreading awareness , or clothing donations. When the earthquake hit in Haiti, my two friends and I couldn’t believe the damage that it left. The people looked like there was no hope for the future, but we decided to do something in order to help them. We wanted to be there to support them in the time of their challenging situation.
Working with my two friends to organize and coordinate a shoe drive for the people of Haiti was very satisfying. As America watched the devastation that was plastered on television, everyone felt compelled to act, we were no different. As we sat around talking one afternoon one of my friends said we could just donate some of our old shoes. However, the more we thought about the idea we realized that we could do more than just donate our shoes, but get others to donate theirs as well. It soon became apparent that power is in volumes, thus the birth of the shoe drive. We spoke to our varsity basketball coach about pursuing the shoe drive as part of our yearly rivalry with our cross town opponent. As co-captain I also thought this would be a great team building exercise. Doing something for someone else has always made me feel good about myself and has always made me feel accomplished, so I figured it would work for the team as well. We spoke to the team and they committed to making it a success. “Young men giving forward” became our mantra. What started with a few shoes out of our closets became a few shoes out of many closets. We were able to collect 600 pairs of shoes and over $1000 in donations. It was such a high for the team especially when as young people were so accustomed to receiving, that we were able to give- “Young men giving forward”. It is my desire that the shoe drive will become an annual signature event for my high school basketball team.”
Jimmy A. Joyner, Jr.- Cary Academy
Congratulations to our 2010 Vinson Orthodontics $500 Scholarship Winner: Anne Buzzell!!
Anne graduated in the top 3% of her class at Clayton High School with a GPA of 4.645!! She will attend the Michigan Jewish Institute this fall. Good Luck Anne!!
"How My Smile Has Affected My Life"
by Anne Buzzell
"I didn't really smile before I had braces. I most often forced my lips upward into a semblance of a smile that probably fooled most onlookers. Braces were an obvious solution to my problem, but finding an orthodontist who would agree to work on my mouth was less apparent. By the time I was 14, I had already had half a dozen consultations with various orthodontists who felt that, in my case, orthodontics would be "risky".
Dr Vinson was the first doctor that gave me a positive feeling about my smile. He agreed to work on my teeth, with no reservations. I started smiling (real smiles) soon after having my braces fitted. It was natural and comfortable and a subtle improvement to my life. People commented-mostly my friends and family. Most notably, my homeroom advisor, a person whom I rarely spoke to, voiced a difference she saw in my school photos as she handed them to me , "You're actually smiling".
As time progressed, I acquired more friends, who later admitted to have previously avoided me because I seemed "cold" and "indifferent". I was shocked. I had fretted so much over my smile, that I had unintentionally emitted an impersonal coldness. It's truly fascinating how someone's smile-something seemingly physical, can affect a person so interpersonally, emotionally and even spiritually.
I would now consider myself a full-time "smiler" of three years. I've discovered the importance of smiling in communication and relationships. Before braces, I underestimated the value of a warm smile and uninhibited facial expressions. Braces have enhanced my life and have allowed me to live easier with natural confidence that emanates from my entire being, but is most obviously reflected by my smile."
Anne Buzzell- Clayton High School