Gene L. Reese Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

High school students and high school graduates that are pursuing dental auxiliary careers (such as dental assistants, dental hygienists and dental lab technicians) in the Tarheel Study Club counties of Ashe, Avery, Mitchell and Watauga.

About Gene L. Reese

A native of Watauga County and a graduate of Appalachian State University, Gene L. Reese graduated in the first class of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Dentistry.

Dr. Reese operated dental practices in Hillsborough and Boone for almost 40 years, and was state secretary of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity, member and vice president of the First District Dental Society, and a member, vice president, and president of the Western Piedmont Dental Society.

He also served in the United States Navy during World War II and worked as a math and science teacher.

An active member of First Baptist Church of Boone, Dr. Reese was also a member of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners, president of Historic Boone, and an active supporter of numerous nonprofit organizations and community causes.

To celebrate his many accomplishments the Tarheel Dental Study Club established the Gene L. Reese scholarship in his honor. The scholarship, which marked its 30th anniversary in 2024, had awarded almost $17,000 to students at that time.

“The Gene L. Reese Scholarship is an important investment in the future of dental care in the High Country community,” said Dr. Nicole Scheffler, an orthodontist and the scholarship’s administrator. “With a growing shortage of skilled dental auxiliaries—whether dental assistants, hygienists, or laboratory technicians—this scholarship not only honors Dr. Reese’s legacy but also provides deserving students with the opportunity to pursue a meaningful career that directly impacts the health and well-being of our community. By offering this scholarship to the next generation of dental professionals, we are helping to ensure that the needs of our local population are met with expertise, care, and compassion.”