2023 Jeff Wenzell Memorial Scholarship Recipient

Tulsa OK

The Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa Jeff Wenzell Memorial Scholarship

This separate award is an additional special scholarship that is given to the top scoring scholarship recipient annually.

Jeff Wenzell was a 40+ year industry veteran, working for a few different companies before settling in with the Explorer Pipeline family, where he spent the next 23 years. Jeff retired from Explorer in 2010 as Director of Engineering, and passed away shortly after. In 2011, Jeff was posthumously named Pipe Liner of the Year by the Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa. Explorer Pipeline honored Jeff by donating $25,000.00 to the Club in order to fund the Jeff Wenzell Memorial Scholarship. The top scoring eligible applicant for the year is awarded an additional $2,500.00 in scholarship monies.

The club would like to thank Explorer Pipeline, Rod Sands, and Mrs. JoAnn Wenzell for allowing us to carry on Jeff's legacy through this special scholarship fund.

Please join us in congratulating the 2023 Jeff Wenzell Memorial Scholarship winner, Kailee Reese. She is a two-time back to back Wenzell award winner!

Kailee Reese is 21 years old, and is an undergraduate student at Oklahoma State University. She is studying Child and Family Services and will be obtaining a minor in special education. She played softball her entire life until entering college. She loves to spend time with her family and enjoys taking her nieces and nephews on adventures. Kailee plans on becoming a social worker in a hospital setting to advocate for kids who are not getting the care they need. She also wants to work with children with disabilities in this work setting to ensure they are getting the care they deserve. Kailee would like to give a special thank you to the Wenzell's and the Pipe Liners Club for believing in her and giving her an opportunity to further her education!

Kailee is sponsored by her uncle, Larry Turner. A club member since 2015, Larry is an Engineer Project Manager with Magellan Midstream Partners.