Gene L. Reese Scholarship Endowment Grant

Gene L. Reese Scholarship Endowment Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: North Carolina Community Foundation Inc
Amount: More than US $1,000
Last Updated: February 25, 2026

Summary

The Gene L. Reese Scholarship Endowment, established to honor Dr. Gene L. Reese, provides financial assistance to students pursuing dental auxiliary careers in the High Country community. With a focus on high school students and graduates from Tarheel Study Club counties, the scholarship aims to address the growing need for skilled dental professionals. Since its inception, it has awarded nearly $17,000 to help deserving students achieve their educational goals, contributing to the future of dental care in the region.

Overview

Scholarships We partner with donors to administer scholarships for students across the state. Most NCCF scholarships open for applications on Dec. 16, 2025, and close on March 3, 2026. Undergraduates, graduates, medical and professional school students and adult re-entry students who are attending community colleges, four-year universities, career/technical schools, teaching credential programs and graduate, medical or professional schools in the United States are eligible for scholarships offered at NCCF. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements defined by the donor when the scholarship was established. Be sure to read the requirements of each scholarship carefully as directed through the universal application and address those elements as needed in your application. Gene L. Reese Scholarship Endowment 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.”

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. 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.