For the Reeves family of Maryville, Tennessee, this year’s Tickle College of Engineering commencement ceremony will be special. Extra, extra, extra special.

Civil engineering graduates Walker, Jackson, and Grey Reeves are triplets. Their parents are UT alumni Jason Reeves (BS/CEE, ’93, MS/CEE, ’95) and Dawn Currie Reeves (BS/CEE, ’93, MS/CEE, ’94).

Jason and Dawn Reeves met at UT in 1991. As undergrads and graduate students, they had had several civil engineering classes together. They began dating in 1994. They married in May 1995 and moved to Indian Land, S.C., just south of Charlotte, where Jason worked as a geotechnical engineer and Dawn worked as an environmental engineer.

The triplets were born on Oct. 18, 2001.

Walker, Jackson, and Grey excelled in math and science, and enjoyed taking introductory engineering courses in high school. Following their parents’ footsteps into engineering seemed natural.

“I think they saw that we really enjoyed and loved our careers,” Dawn said.

Jason said his sons also inherited a love for UT.

“They grew up watching UT sports with us and singing ‘Rocky Top,’” he said. “Our house was always orange, and we had UT football watch parties at the house. They attended several UT football games over the years and had their photo taken with Smokey, the Volunteer, and several UT football players.”

Although the triplets briefly considered attending Clemson University, which was near their home, it just didn’t feel right.

Grey remembers hearing a Clemson tour guide gush about his lifelong love for Clemson and his certainty that he wanted to attend the university.

“I was thinking that describes me—but with UT,” he said.

When it was clear the triplets would become Volunteers, the Reeves family relocated to Maryville. Dawn is now a senior director with Jones, Lang, LaSalle, a worldwide real estate and investment management firm, and Jason is a technical principal geotechnical engineer at S&ME in Knoxville.

As UT freshmen in 2020–2021, the triplets lived on the honors floor at Dogwood Hall. The pandemic forced most of their classes online, and it could have been really lonely for the trio if they hadn’t had each other.

“We’re each other’s best friends. Grudges don’t last more than 20 minutes,” Jackson said. “And most arguments are over basketball.”

Their sophomore year, the three shared a quad room in Dogwood. Since then, they’ve shared an off-campus apartment.

While the triplets all pursued civil engineering, each has his own focus: Walker, environmental engineering; Jackson, water resources engineering; and Grey, geotechnical engineering.

This summer, all three have summer internships in Knoxville: Walker in remediation engineering at Arcadis; Jackson in hydrology at Tennessee Water Resources Research Center; and Grey in quality control at GEI Consultants. All three will also stay at UT for another year to complete their master’s degrees through the five-year BS/MS program.

As alike as they are, the triplets also have their differences.

The brothers agree that Walker is the most studious; he’s the one the other two turn to when they need help with coursework. He was active in the UT chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and is part of the sustainable solutions team that will compete at the national level this summer. He loves hiking, mountain biking, and running.

Jackson loves playing pickleball and watching movies.

While all of the boys play tennis, Grey is the best.

While they may one day have to go their separate ways, the Reeves brothers say it would be special—extra, extra, extra special—if they could land their first jobs in Knoxville so they can support each other as they start their careers.

Contact

Amy Blakely (ablakely@retiree.utk.edu)