Knox County Youth of the Month – May 2023

Meet Reese

Reese, a senior at Powell High School, has been a member of our Pipeline program for the past four years. The Pipeline program is designed to increase the number of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who complete high school and enroll in postsecondary programs related to the healthcare industry. Placing concentrated focus on the concepts of STEM Education, the Pipeline program offers the following: academic advising, career exploration, after school tutoring, college tours, and STEM Career Camp. It also provides assistance with financial aid applications, college entrance exams fees, college applications, and fee payments.The Pipeline program is offered at Austin-East, Central, Fulton, Karns, Powell, and West High Schools.

“After graduating, I plan to attend Pellissippi State Community College and then transfer to the University of Tennessee Knoxville to major in Biology with aspirations of becoming a Veterinarian. I could not have achieved the title of Powell High School Scholar without my family and educators, and I could not have done this without the support of my Pipeline advisor, Ms. Bri Dowis. The Pipeline program has allowed me to participate in college tours, provided assistance with scholarship forms and applications, and allowed me the opportunity to take the ACT multiple times to improve my scores by providing fee assistance. Throughout my time in the Pipeline program, Ms. Bri was always available to meet with me to discuss my career goals, which path to take, and which colleges would be a good fit for me – she always gave me honest and helpful answers. Ms. Bri and the rest of the Pipeline community not only supported me on my academic goals but also supported me in life decisions and athletics. I am grateful for the opportunities Pipeline has offered me the past four years, however, I am even more grateful that I have a new friend and mentor to be there for me.”

-Reese R., Pipeline participant and Powell High School Scholar