2023 Winter Newsletter

Roseman University College of Dental Medicine

Snow Much Fun!

Time to bring in the new year! One of the biggest events that occurred this past season was the National Leadership Conference in Chicago. Roseman students who participated in the conference contributed the wonderful knowledge they gained to this newsletter. Although being a dental student is a lot of hard work, it would be hard to live in Utah without taking advantage of the amazing snow! This issue will not only be full of information pertaining to dentistry but will also include fun winter activities to enjoy in Utah!

President Secretary Treasurer Legislative Liason

Marisa Estipona Jemima Varughese Diana Zhen Jody Chiang

Allyson

Isabella Augustine

Sara Qualls

EDITOR'S

smelnitsky406@student.roseman.edu

In general, everyone on the ASDA board contributes to the newsletter by writing an article of their choice. However, I love the idea of other students getting involved and being able to share their knowledge and passions! This newsletter will include many topics written by students who attended the National Leadership Conference this past fall in Chicago, supplying even more great information for you to read!

EDITING TEAM

Alexis Kim, 2026 Ingrid Feder, 2025

By Brooklyn Janes

By Kade Janes

HOW TO SET A SMART NEW YEARS GOAL

M. Measurable

Written by: Brooklyn Janes

The new year is the perfect time to set new goals for ourselves. However, oftentimes we set them but do not see them through How can we set our goals and be successful with them? With a “SMART” plan, we can set ourselves up to succeed.

S. Specific

Having a general goal will most likely end up being wishful thinking especially as we immerse ourselves in our busy daily routines Specific goals will help us to become zoned in and focused In the book, Atomic Habits, the author states two steps to help change our beliefs. 1.) Decide the type of person you want to be. 2 ) Prove it to yourself with small wins How would you like to identify yourself? For example, if you’d like to identify yourself as a runner, you might prove it by running 1 mile every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday These specific small wins will help us achieve the personal goals that align with our identity

If there is no measurement of our goals, how will we know when we ’ ve crossed the finish line? Measurements help us quantify our goals and are used as clear indicators that help us stay on track with our progress Attach some sort of number or event to your goal to make it measurable.

A. Achievable

We must set goals that we can build upon If we bite off more than we can chew, we might get frustrated and lose motivation and confidence However, if we set goals that are reasonable and attainable, this will help boost our confidence as we move forward to the next best goal.

R. Relevant

This step helps us see if the goal that we’d like to achieve fits into the big picture and if it relates to our values, dreams, and ambitions Some questions we might ask ourselves include:

T. Timely

We are all familiar with deadlines. The word is often considered to be stressful and dreadful, especially from our undergrad school experience. However, goals with a deadline help keep us accountable If our deadlines are 6 weeks or 6 months from now, these long-term due dates could be supplemented by short-term due dates such as a specific time of the day or a specific day of the week Once we create a catered timeline for our SMART goals, we may get a sense of urgency to complete them

Is this the right time?

Is this worthwhile?

Does this coincide with other needs?

Good luck to everyone setting SMART goals for the new year!

INCREASE OF TUITION COST

Written by: Kade Janes

Dentistry is a great profession and is commonly listed as one of the top ten occupations in America But it’s no secret that it is one of the country's most difficult and expensive professions to be a part of It is standard for private and out-of-state schools to cost between $80,000-100,000/year for just tuition and fees In-state schools are a bit cheaper but there are limited seats and even then, most are $50,000+ a year after fees are applied

With this, naturally one would think that the average income of a dentist would go up significantly to give practicing dentists the ability to pay their loans off while still having the opportunity to support a family, put money away for retirement and purchase a practice A research article posted in the Journal of American Dentistry reported the average salary of a dentist in 1996 was around $175,000; in 2019 it was around $200,000 This is an increase of a modest 15%

According to an ADEA survey, in 1996, a new dental graduate's average debt was $84,247 In 2019, the survey said the average debt of a dental school graduate was $292,169, and 39% of students graduated with over $300,000 in loans I have looked at the tuition that most dental schools post on their website and based on what I have found, I would imagine that number is even higher. In just twenty-three years, the debt load that graduating dental students graduate with has increased by 235%. According to the American Institution of Economic Research, the cost of living in the same period only increased by 62.45%.

What does this mean for dental students and dentistry moving forward? I believe that dentistry is still a great field to go into for many reasons Dentists get to interact with and help people daily, which is not common On top of this, I think there is still plenty of opportunities to make good money to have a comfortable lifestyle, enjoy your life and profession, put money away for retirement, and still pay off your loans.

To do this, dental students need to have a different approach and mindset than they did thirty years ago. Here are a couple of things that I think will immensely help all of us become successful in our profession both clinically and financially First: Do your research In the first week of school, an employee of the school you attend gives everyone a lecture on paying loans back at lightning speed and it can be hard to grasp There are many different repayment plans to sign up for and some can help you save interest while you are in school Saving on interest now will pay big dividends in the future. On top of this, there are more options than the school presents You can refinance, change repayment plans, and apply for military and public service scholarships These are all great things to look into and will allow you to practice the type of dentistry you want in the future without having debt hold you back

Second: Learn as much as you can in dental school, both in school and on your own. There are CE courses for students on how to buy and own a practice if that is what you are interested in There are also many opportunities to learn things clinically in school, during lunch and learns, CE courses, dental conferences, and many other ways The more you learn as a student, the faster you will be able to build on that outside of school and increase the number of different procedures that you will be able to perform in private practice

as well as decrease the time it takes to complete these procedures Wider scope of practice will help dentists pay their debt off faster in most cases

Third: Do your best to live within your means Try to avoid the mindset of “I'll be a rich dentist one day so I can buy this if I want to ” There is something to be said about living comfortably and enjoying your life. But living within your means now will decrease the amount of interest that will accrue now and later, as well as decrease your monthly payments when you are a practicing doctor

Fourth: Don’t get discouraged! It can be overwhelming to think about these things. But if you break things down and create a plan for your future, I believe you will be highly likely to succeed. Someone once told me, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail ” Look at your situation and decide what is best for you and make the decisions to execute your plan

If we do these simple things, I believe the future is very bright for all future dentists!

FINDING HAPPINESS TODAY

However, as each day would pass she found herself once again longing for something in the future, discontent with her present.

Written by: Ben Raymond

Near the end of November, ASDA’s National Leadership Conference took place in Chicago. During the course of the weekend, we attended workshops ranging in topics very familiar to dental students From dental photography to trauma, triage, and treatment, we were taught by some of the best in our field However, one topic that might not be an obvious candidate for a dental leadership conference was presented by a successful orthodontist, Dr. MacCarthy. That topic: finding happiness.

Many points in our education and career give us a boost of happiness: finishing our to or er elf nt of ld to I I ’ll ppy p ch step, she did get a rush of emotion and excitement

There are ma and other sources of gu this topic, and I am not uld like to share, though ngs I took away from her First, be awar c storm If you find that a state of anger, fear, an step back Breathe. Rem n yourself from situation ve. Second, be imes of disappointme vironment where you ar e will not result in progr And third, don’t expect something or someone from outside yourself to bring you happiness While outside factors may certainly bring you joy, you are the ultimate determinant of your happiness what you, individually, do, say, and think are the most influential factors to your well-being.

You can take a quiz on Dr. MacCarthy’s website to see where she rates your level of happiness Scan the QR code below to see the website containing her 12-week program, information on her podcast, and other resources

DENTACTIVIST

Written by: Sameem Norooz

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that more than three months have passed since that watershed moment; so much has changed in such a seemingly short span of time On September 16th, 2022 Mahsa Amini, a 22-yearold Iranian woman, died in the custody of the socalled "morality police" while being detained for a minor violation of the Islamic Republic Regime’s strict dress code. Although the circumstances were unclear, the playbook was the same: lies, denial, deflection, propaganda, obfuscation… the narrative was all too familiar, yet something felt different this time

Meanwhile, D3 year had just gotten underway and things were going well Suddenly, I found myself engulfed by the social media eruption of posts mourning the untimely death of this young woman This collective outrage quickly transformed into global protests and demonstrations, including here in Salt Lake City. On October 1st, hundreds of people gathered and marched from city hall to the state capitol, bearing signs and shouting slogans demanding accountability for this gross violation of human rights. Several of my LLC’s and I attended this event to demonstrate our solidarity and support for the brave women and men of Iran who were coming under increasingly brutal force from the regime

In the weeks that followed, it became clear that the intensity of this movement was only growing stronger and that there was so much more at stake. Attending the weekly rallies that followed was a small price to pay, but this was becoming an increasingly time-consuming effort and I was beginning to suffer the emotional toll from witnessing scenes of incessant violence and unspeakable atrocities. One particularly upsetting incident was the abduction of a dental school professor who is a faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, one of the foremost dental schools in Iran

I thought to myself, imagine if something like this were to happen to any of our beloved female faculty members, how would we respond? And it was during this trying time that I recalled something from my days as a psychology major, a certain psychological defense mechanism known as sublimation: converting anxiety and stress into a productive outcome. So I decided to take it upon myself to start a petition calling for the immediate and unconditional release of our fellow colleague We are a universal profession and should one of us be subjected to any form of injustice, then our entire community suffers. Likewise, I would hope and pray that if any of us were befallen by such a time of need that our fellow healthcare providers would advocate for us.

Being a dental student is undoubtedly a busy time and it may not always be possible to do as much as we would like in other areas of life

Many things may be outside of our control, such as the timing of events and so on, but creating time for important matters is a sacrifice that we can and should make When I examine my core philosophy and reflect on my experience so far, I realize that both my passion for service and advocating for human rights draw from the same source, which has grown as a result. I am incredibly grateful to learn in an environment where I am surrounded by so many supporting and encouraging friends and mentors. This unique culture and camaraderie that thrives here is what distinguishes us and I am proud to contribute to the human element of our program What can you do to help? Keeping abreast, raising awareness, and writing to your local congressman/senator about the ongoing events transpiring in Iran are just a few of the ways you can make a difference Thank you Women. Life. Freedom.

Written by: Gia Le

Dr. Alexandra Otto, a pediatric dentist at Kids Tooth Team, and Mr Tim Otto, an entrepreneur since age 15, are a married couple working on their own dental practice. At last November's ASDA National Leadership Conference, they gave a presentation on how to build a practice from scratch.

There are four main points that the couple emphasized:

This is allowed because the two have a good cushion from saving up money over the last few years, during which time Dr Otto had been working for other offices and earning money as an associate As a business owner, one will suffer greatly in work-life balance They pretty much will not have a balance until the business can run by itself, which takes a lot of time “I cannot take a day off until the day when everything is stable,” stated Otto. You will earn more and have a much better work-life balance as an associate or partner

4.

Weigh the Potential Risk and Reward Identify the Economic Forces Which are Shaping the Profession Survey the Areas to Build and Evaluate Different Practice Styles Create a Business Model to Successfully Lead a Practice

Risk and Reward go hand in hand With the current economic climate, the risk seems to be more relevant than the reward. Alexandra and Tim quoted that they did not take a single paycheck out for themselves in the first year of their practice. That means they have been paying other associates, employees, and business costs before paying themselves This is very common, especially for new business owners The possibility of gaining money where the business is operated on a profit takes a lot of time.

Comparing the dental profession to what it was 20 to 30 years ago, having and building a practice is much more difficult now Statistics show that, back then when a dentist opened up their own practice, the failure rate was very low with the gain being high The opposite can be seen in the current day climate. The pay is lower currently due to the saturation of dentists In urban areas, dentists tend to earn much less than rural ones. If you are okay with the rural lifestyle, opening up a practice in this type of area will do you good

Market Saturation:

Record number of dentists graduating

Few dentists retiring Declining salaries

Increased expansion into other areas of healthcare

Work-life balance

Younger dentists tend to be attracted to urban areas instead of rural

It is much harder than just opening up a practice and hoping that everything goes well, especially if the new business owners are going up against DSOs (Dental Support Organizations) DSOs, when done correctly, are much more beneficial Technological and societal changes also play a big part in this With the resources that DSOs have, they can keep up their technology and get ahead of smaller local businesses very quickly. For example:

Teledentistry

Threat of outcome-based healthcare Challenges to the FFS/Fee For Service model (n most traditional payment models of healthcare, providers are reimbursed based on the number of services they provide of their procedures; payments are not bundled)

Medicaid, Medicare

DSOs have a big advantage as a team since it is not the physician doing all the work. They have employees with specific roles and responsibilities to care for every little detail

How can we create a beneficial and fulfilling business as future practitioners?

This is all based on the culture, vision, and mission of your practice If you are just creating a practice for the sake of gaining wealth, it is very hard to do so, at least with a good profit margin. If you are passionate about helping people and building a good culture in your business, you will create an environment where not only the patient is happy, but your staff will be happy as well This is where you gain the most Having a private practice is not easy, but if you make it bearable for not just yourself but everyone around you, it will become successful This is why there are cases of employees staying with the same practice for 20-plus years, and these practices are extremely successful

Take business classes Have a team and system behind your practice

Read the news (ADA news, dental news, etc )

Learn and structure your system like a DSO (do NOT despise them, instead learn from them)

SOLVING LEADERSHIP DILEMMAS: MANAGING THE EVOLUTION FROM STUDENT TO DENTIST

Written by: Julie Kang

“Your canvas is blank It can be drawn any way you want, you can go in any direction you want You are the leader of your own life,” said Dr. Mike Meru, a private practice orthodontist located in Southern California He remembered what it was like to be a dental student dealing with monotony, the minutia that we worry about in dental school, such as passing exams, and getting clinicals done. Then you go into the working world and it’s awesome, you can create the work atmosphere around you and be a leader to those around you the way you want, but it’s all not without challenges

In school, you and your classmates have, to a degree, the same end in mind: to get licensed Your views and their views are one and the same However, as a practicing doctor, there are a lot more factors that come into play Every decision you make has repercussions. Because the position where you are and those you lead are different, the needs of your staff, the needs of the local doctor, and the needs of the bosses if you ’ re at a DSO, are different Your views, goals, methodology, and that of another party may not align. So what do you do?

As you go into practice, regardless of what it is, whether it’s as an associate, partner, owner, or educator, you have bosses, partners, staff, an online reputation, building your brand, relationships with local doctors, corporate goals, and inter-office dynamics These are challenges different than what you ’ re dealing with as a dental student.

Dr. Meru dove into stories describing scenarios he dealt with first-hand about how to be a leader to your associate or partner, to your staff and for your staff, to your patients, to your community outside of the office, to your “competition” or other local specialists, and to yourself in your profession. The overarching theme amongst all is to practice leadership with finesse, humility, and a bit more softness, turning any negatives into positives. When you graduate and join the practice, give more than you normally would. And it’s going to feel difficult

Sometimes you ’ re going to feel like they don’t deserve it, and they might not, whether it’s the management, or your associate, or the staff, but just give a little bit more. Because if you give more than you ’ re getting, you humble yourself, they will respect you, and then will follow you. Look beyond the nice things, such as paid lunches, 3-day retreats in Malibu, big bonuses You want to lead with fulfillment in mind.

The thing about dentistry is that we change people’s lives. The key is to make sure that every single person in your office is included in that. Even if they only did the smallest of roles, make them feel a part of it and they’ll want to come in the next day They’ll want to do what it takes if they feel like they’re a part of what you ’ re creating and how you ’ re changing people’s lives

Essentially: give people purpose This applies across the board in life If you give your significant other purpose, your union will be better If you give your children purpose, you will be closer to them If you give your staff purpose, they will be loyal to you. Be enthusiastic when you don’t want to, even if you ’ re having a rough day or week Be enthusiastic because morale is linked to positivity Always act professionally and be accountable Keep your word If you make a mistake, admit it. Continue to stand up for what you believe in; it may not always translate to the best end result immediately but long-term it always will.

And lastly, be of service to those who you lead. Leave them happier than you found them Help them find fulfillment If you do, they’ll be loyal, work hard, they will follow your vision and they will help you achieve the goals that you ’ ve set out for your life and your career

Written by: Claire Reilly

The ASDA National Leadership Conference in Chicago this past November opened my eyes to topics that would expand the skills of any aspiring dentist While most presentations bridged the gap between dental school and being a business owner and leader, the conversation that impacted me the most was on the topic of aging populations It is not profound to recognize the correlation between medical advancements and increased access to food that would increase the lifespan of humans But what is its impact on dental care?

Dr. Linda Niessen, DMD, professor and founding dean of the College of Dental Medicine at Kansas City University, presented on aging and oral health to bring to light some key areas that we, the future of dentistry, will likely face when we practice I took notes on Dr Niessen’s presentation and here are some of the points where I feel we, as students, can begin to make the biggest impact

OHI and Dental Goals

It’s normal--with age, comes natural wear and tear on the body. Our vision, our hearing, our cognitive abilities, and our movements become a little worse. As dental providers, we have to

take this decrease in function into consideration when we talk to our patients about their oral health habits at home Perhaps they need a modified toothbrush grip, a wider entrance to accommodate a wheelchair or walker, or a limit on the recline of the dental chair

However, even with the obvious signs of aging, it is still just as important for the patient to have an active role in their treatment plans. And, as a healthcare provider, it is even more important to be in constant communication with their other health care providers. It can feel very overwhelming in clinic when we have a comprehensive exam and the patient shows us their very long list of medications And it can be so easy for us to present our treatment plan recommendations and give them another very long list of procedures and costs In clinic, let’s try to take a step back and evaluate the dental goals of the patient, as well as take time to understand their medical barriers before providing our treatment

Medicare and Legislation

I will be the first to admit, I did not realize that Medicare does not include dental coverage People are automatically enrolled into Medicare plans at 65 years of age and receive federal funds to cover medical expenses Of course, there are advanced plans that some choose to buy into that will include dental coverage, but with that additional expense, it could still leave nearly half of the aging population without dental coverage On the flip side of the coin, there are the extremely poor, aged populations that have dual enrollment in both Medicare and Medicaid to receive medical and dental benefits But keep in mind, Medicaid is a staterun program, so the political affiliations of the state will dictate how funds are allocated to the program The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines list a “medically necessary dental benefit” for those individuals with medical conditions like organ transplants and cancer.

Do you see where I’m going with all this? It is a hot mess Dental care can be very expensive, and depending on the treatment suggested, it can be unattainable for many. At Roseman, we see a fair amount of patients over the age of 65 and perhaps it is because we are the best financial option for their care.

Personally, I think the best way we can improve legislation is to lobby for the expansion of Medicare. The policies in place feel limited and restrictive-is that the way dental care should be? ASDA has a branch that provides us with the opportunity to learn more about lobbying and ways students can be involved with legislation If you are interested, reach out to ASDA Legislative Liaison Jody Chiang or ASDA Advocacy Chair Ally Hollenbeck

Volunteering Opportunity

I had not given this much thought until this presentation, but how is oral health handled in nursing homes or assisted living facilities? Dr. Niessen made an interesting point that many living in these types of residences are dentally at risk. These facilities have to hold a certain quality assurance standard, but who is directing the oral health standard? This is where we can make a difference! Dentists can “adopt a nursing home” and volunteer their time to make a difference to these residents and their community

Moral of the story: Perspective. Respect. Be thankful to be on the right side of the grass We aren’t getting any younger!

APPLYING FOR RESIDENCIES

Written by: Maddie Bauer

The ASDA leadership conference was filled with the development of LLCs from other schools, educational advancements, and of course plenty of food in the Windy City of Illinois As dental students, a question that often comes up is “Will you be specializing?” While some dental students know they want to specialize right away, others may come into this degree with an open mind about the future. However, what do you do once you decide you want to specialize?

Dr Ellie Bruno, DDS, MD is an oral surgeon who shared her journey into her oral surgeon residency There are four key milestones to achieve in your journey toward getting the residency of your choice. The four categories include: Prepare Your Application Materials, Take Your Tests, Interviews, and Match Day Applying for a residency requires knowing what tests to take, getting good letters of recommendation, filling out applications, and going on interviews. The following information will help you make the best application possible

Prepare Your Application Materials

The timeline for each step to apply to residency includes preparation and planning that needs to start today, even if you ’ re a D1!

Preparing your application involves more than just getting through dental school with the right marks With some schools choosing to move away from standard grading to a pass/no pass method it can be difficult to judge an individual based on their academic achievements In addition, you need to make sure you are a wellrounded individual and can answer the difficult questions of “Who am I outside of a classroom?” and “What makes me feel fulfilled as an individual?”

The biggest thing to keep in mind for your application is quality over quantity. It may mean being in a few clubs but holding leadership positions or organizing special events within that club This helps to create a CV/resume that is impactful and demonstrates your leadership skills. Making a CV tells the story of what you have done throughout dental school, which should be updated every year

One of the biggest parts of the application is making your personal statement. When 1000 people are applying for one of only 6 spots, what is the motivation that drives you and sets you apart from everyone else? Why will you be the best candidate for this program and how will this set you apart from everyone else? Now for a word of warning: do not let your pitfall be talking up a specialty that already knows how special they are. Talk about how you will make the specialty extra special

Getting Letters of Recommendation (LORs) is also important These should make you positively stand out from the rest When asking an advisor for a LOR make sure they know you. Some professors will have you fill out a form for their LOR even if they know you It helps them understand values they may not see or things they were not able to see There is a minimum of 3 needed and having a LOR from someone in the field may be a requirement. Thus, starting to make connections during your D1 year is critical to having good LORs. Additional LORs can be beneficial if you believe they are necessary to your application However, Dr Bruno stated that these may not be looked at due to the number of applications they are already receiving

Another important component while filling out your application is the academic section It is important to input the schools or programs you want so that a transcript request can be sent to them In addition, an Institution Evaluation form is submitted to the Dean’s office This document can be a time-consuming process for the Dean’s office to complete since there are many other applicants Thus, getting it in sooner rather than later can mean the difference between you getting an interview and not

An additional part of the application is the Match registration. You should register for this right after you have applied for the ADEA PASS application. Dr. Bruno noted that if it is not completed some schools will not give interviews This is a contract between you and the school saying that if given an offer you will go there If you are given multiple offers then you need to pick one of the offers However, if you refuse all offers, it gives the programs the right to sue you With so few positions at every school, it is hard to give an offer to someone who just wanted to apply because they could. The programs are already investing time into you, but do not forget that you are investing time into them too. Do not let this portion of the process deter you from applying Finally, do your research! Know what is important to you and what will align with you If a school does not share the same values as you, do not apply. If the program does not match what you want but is the only program out there, know what is worth compromising and what won’t be Know the school you are applying to and reach out to them A website can tell you a lot of information, but going and visiting the area will give insight into the society and culture of the school you would be going to

Take Your Tests

Each program has different requirements Unlike taking a single exam (the DAT) when applying to dental school, multiple tests are required for specialty programs Along with boards, D3s should be taking their required tests. Applications open in May and applying sooner rather than later is a key factor for programs

Then there’s Match Day which is when you finally see where you will be going after graduation! If you do not get in the first time around, do not give up! Keep working hard toward accomplishing your dreams If you end up working before reapplying, remember to make connections that can help add to your next application This journey will challenge you and will be the hardest thing you will have done up to this point in your career, but it will allow you to grow

If you are currently applying, remember you got this Roseman is a wonderful school that is just as competitive as other schools for these selective spots Although different, our efforts toward our degree are just as challenging as other universities. The only time that you will never get the specialty that you want is if you never apply Pursue your dreams and you will reach them. Good luck to all the future specialists or those who choose to do a GPR or AEGD!

Interview and Match Day

Finally, you got that interview for your dream residency If you have accepted an interview offer, remember you are being interviewed from the moment you get there until the moment you leave. Dr. Bruno emphasized the common things you normally are expected to do during an interview Wear nice clothes and look your best! Be prepared to bring something to write with and 2-3 questions to ask the interviewers The after-interview socials are also times when you are being evaluated. While attending these social events, always be mindful of how you socialize with other potential applicants and future professors.

WINTER FUN IN UTAH

Midway Ice Castles:

The Ice Castles are located about an hour away from campus and offer an exciting attraction and display of artist-made ice castles, sculptures, slides, tubing, and hot chocolate. Open during the day and night, it is an amazing opportunity for photos and entertainment for friends and family

Written by: Maanik Agarwal

With the abundance of snow in 2023, why not explore all that Utah has to offer this winter? Yes, the cold does invite cozy nights at home… but we can still experience adventurous outdoor activities and plenty of exciting upcoming events. Here’s a list of some amazing things to explore this winter when you might need a break from school:

Visit a National Park:

If you ’ ve already been to Zion, Canyonlands, or Bryce Canyon in the spring or summertime, the winter offers a whole new experience as each national park transforms into a scenic portrait straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie Whether it’s taking a scenic drive through Zion, snowshoeing in Canyonlands, or attending the annual winter festival in Bryce Canyon, there’s an exciting venue for everyone

Homestead Crater:

If the cold is not your vibe, how about a hot spring just outside of Salt Lake City? This geothermal hot spring rests inside 55 feet of limestone allowing temperatures to reach upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter Perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and yoga, this attraction is open year-round.

Bear Lake:

Ice fishing has always been foreign to me as a native Californian but if you ’ ve ever wanted to try fishing in the winter, Bear Lake is a great place to do so. This small quaint town also offers local choices of food and drinks, as well as skiing and tubing nearby that come highly recommended.

Snowmobiling:

There are miles upon miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Utah From meadows to lakes to steep traverses and mountains, a guided snowmobile tour is certainly a bucket list item to keep on the radar during the winter offering amazing views that only the best hikers could reach

Sundance Film Festival:

For our movie fans out there, we ’ re fortunate enough to be right around the corner from the annual Sundance Film Festival and this year looks to be on track for the grand reopening following Covid closures The festival is held in Park City in January featuring around 200 films and plenty of celebrity sightings Start booking viewing times and restaurants soon as this event attracts visitors from around the world!

Dog Sledding:

One of the best activities to do in Utah, Park City offers dog sledding on scenic private properties while also helping a good cause Check out Bear Ridge Adventures and sign up to meet former sled dogs that were once seen as “unadoptable” and given a new chance at a second life.

RECIPE: PINWHEELS WITH A KICK

Directions:

Written by: Palack Mahajan

What better way to kick off the new year than with a cozy new recipe? Whether you ’ re having a girl’s night, date night, or simply looking to relieve some stress through cooking, this recipe will cover all the bases

First off, lets gather the ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) of cream cheese

(room temperature)

1 cup of sour cream

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons of McCormick taco seasoning

6 flour or wheat tortillas

1 cup shredded Mexican cheese

1 green chili

1 cup carrots

1 cup bell peppers (Red, green, or orange)

1 cup green onions

1. 2. 3. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Chop the green chili, carrots, bell peppers, and green onions

Using a kitchen aid or hand whisker, mix the cream cheese and sour cream together

Add in the chopped vegetables and shredded Mexican cheese

Add in all the spices and stir everything together until a creamy consistency has been achieved

To soften the tortillas, heat each tortilla for 15-20 seconds in the microwave or on the stove

Lay the tortilla over a flat surface and evenly coat it with the mixture, making sure to cover the edges

Repeat until the mixture runs out

Tightly roll each tortilla and wrap it in plastic wrap

Place the tortillas in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or overnight

Remove tortillas from the fridge, remove the plastic wrap and slice into ½-1-inch slices

Serve and Enjoy!

Samantha Melnitsky

Caught Up Gryffin, Olivia O'Brien

Alexis Kim Antidote

Orion Sun

Rachel Marr

Heading South Zach Bryan

Kavina Patel Tití

Katie

Carlo Lara

Philip Conte

Joe Penaloza

Ferrari James Hype, Miggy Dela