The Power of Connection: A Presidential Ambassador Finds a Rare Community at Manor College

Carolyn Hagan (Media, Pa., Penncrest High School) is studying Dental Hygiene at Manor College.

Carolyn Hagan grew up dreaming of creating new worlds. Popular cartoon shows like Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Lab and Gravity Falls inspired artistic aspirations. As she grew older and entered college, however, the artists’ lifestyle waned on her.

“You begin to realize there’s an industry behind it and as I got older, I realized how heavy and thankless that job can be unless you can really stand out,” Hagan said.

Hagan took online art classes at a local community college as a freshman when thoughts of a career in the industry haunted her. She grew disenchanted with a life spent constantly marketing yourself or being performative just to get by.

“It’s such a trap,” she explained. “You get baited into art, but mask the time it takes to get somewhere when you’re most likely going to be shuttled into something super corporate that you didn’t want to be doing. I didn’t think I could give it the desire you needed to be successful.”

At the college, she saw a flyer for Dental Hygiene. She knew of her aptitude for science and math, and thought dental hygiene could be a good use of her skill set. The more she researched, the more she found a passion for a fulfilling industry that can provide assistance to others.

“No matter how much you do, you are a crucial part of helping somebody,” Hagan said. “People are coming into your office and they are trusting you to take care of them. I’ve always liked being a helper.”

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Hagan first discovered Manor College through a Google search. She planned to tour several colleges for dental hygiene, but she “basically committed on the spot” during her first tour. Her biggest concern about transferring to any college was finding an institution that would work with you.

When she came to Manor, Hagan met John Simila, the institution’s Director of Admissions. Hagan questioned nearly everything about Manor – how her grades would transfer, how to get into the Dental Hygiene program, what was the atmosphere like and more. The two exchanged more than a dozen emails after that visit.

“She wasn’t just concerned about getting into college,” Simila said. “She had a vision for getting into Dental Hygiene.”

Hagan’s biggest concern was starting as an Allied Health major, a common step for Dental Hygiene students. The decision required a bit of faith, but Hagan said Simila and his willingness to answer questions and have conversations served as the spark for her enrolling at Manor.

“It was the most affirming thing coming in with questions and having a one-on-one conversation with a person who was engaged and could give you the right answer,” Hagan said. “I hadn’t experienced that before. He was constantly reassuring and I knew Manor was my place.”

Hagan began her first Dental Hygiene classes in the Fall 2025 semester. She’s found ways to become part of Manor College’s campus, including as a Presidential Ambassador.

“What Manor has built here is rare,” Hagan said of the community. “Manor made it easier than ever to start conversations with others. I wanted to help build a community that already helped me in this last year.”