There was a different kind of buzz in Memphis on the morning of February 11. Not the rush of car lines or the shuffle of first period, but the steady rhythm of care in action.
Nearly 100 students from Freedom Preparatory Academy and Bellevue Middle School received dental care services during the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Dentistry’s 10th annual Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) event. For Freedom Prep, this marks nine years of partnership with UT, a relationship rooted in access, dignity, and opportunity.
Inside the clinic, the atmosphere was calm and welcoming. Middle and high school students received cleanings, screenings, and essential procedures at no cost to families. In total, UT’s College of Dentistry provided free dental care to 73 students during the event, delivering more than 600 procedures valued at $18,148, according to UTHSC.
For our students, the experience is more than a treatment. Joscelyn Chavez, a 10th grader at our FPA High School, has participated in the event before. This year felt just as meaningful. “My doctor was very patient and kind and kept me informed through the whole process,” Joscelyn shared. “Getting to do this every year also gives you the chance to learn from them in case you’re interested in becoming a dentist.”
This exposure matters. As UTHSC noted, celebrating 1o years of GKAS is not only about providing necessary dental care. It also introduces our FPA students to the university’s dental professions, planting seeds for what their own futures could hold.
At FPA, caring for students has always meant looking at the whole picture. “Our movement includes caring for the whole child, and that includes their health,” said Roderick Barber, High School Head of School. “Our partnership with Give Kids A Smile and UTHSC has been incredibly meaningful for our families because it removes barriers while restoring confidence and dignity for our students. When students feel healthy, they show up differently. Over the years, I’ve watched students walk into this experience nervous and leave with a brighter smile.”
That transformation is both immediate and lasting. Access to dental care supports overall well-being, which directly impacts attendance, focus, and classroom engagement. When students are not distracted by pain or uncertainty about their health, they are free to fully participate in their learning.
“The Give Kids A Smile–UTHS partnership reflects our core value of community and our commitment to educating the whole child,” said Natasha Jean-Louis, Flagship Middle Campus Head of School. “When students have access to essential dental care, they show up more confident, focused, and ready to learn. This event reminds our families that they are seen, supported, and surrounded by a community invested in their success.”
Melody Webber, Manager of Community Engagement, echoed that gratitude. “We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with UT’s College of Dentistry. It’s a thoughtful partnership that benefits both our students and UT dentistry students, who gain hands-on clinical experience while providing quality care.”
The spirit of gratitude and collaboration filled the air. Future UTHSC dentists honed their skills. Students gained healthier smiles and, in many cases, a clearer vision of what they might one day become.
Ten years of Give Kids A Smile. Nine years of our UTHSC-FPA partnership. Hundreds of procedures. Countless moments of comfort.
In the end, it comes back to something simple. When our students feel cared for, they carry themselves differently. They smile wider. They sit taller. They step back into their classrooms ready to learn. And this kind of impact and feeling reaches far beyond a single day.
