By: Madison Rastocny
Quintuplets -- Jacob, Chloe, Samuel, Ella, Jackson Powell -- are the first set of quintuplets to survive in Kentucky.
Quintuplets occur once in 52 million births. But as rare as that seems, it’s more likely to happen than hitting the Powerball jackpot, which has the odds of 292 million - 1.
On Oct. 28, 2001, Jacob, Samuel, Jackson, Chloe and Ella Powell were born and raised in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.
This group of siblings was Kentucky’s first surviving set of quintuplets. They also have a 12-year-old brother, Henry.
All five started attending Bellarmine in the fall of 2020 after graduating from Christian Educational Consortium. Chloe, Jackson and Ella still attend Bellarmine, and Samuel is planning to return this spring. Jacob works at a Culver’s restaurant that he will soon own, is married and has a 3-month-old daughter.
The quintuplets were very competitive at a young age but are not as much now.
“I think we made everything a competition. We all played soccer, and we were all very competitive with that,” Ella said.
Jackson said: “Now, we are still pretty competitive, like if you get us in a soccer game, we are still going to be competitive. We really want the best for everyone now. I love seeing my siblings succeed.”
Siblings often fight for their parents’ attention. With this crew, it was easy to get attention, and their parents did a lot for them to make them feel special.
“Our parents did a good job of making sure we each knew that we were loved, and we each had time with them,” Chloe said. “Our dad took us out on a date every other weekend just so we had special time just with him. Our mom would take the boys out and go do something fun, and our dad would take the girls out.”
Samuel said, “Our parents were always good about spending quality time with us.”
Stephanie Powell, the quintuplet’s mother, said; “Raising quintuplets was definitely overwhelming at times but also amazing. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
But it was challenging to make time for all children.
Stephanie said, “We did have to be very intentional with spending quality time and connecting with each one.”
For birthdays, the five shared one cake, and they celebrated together each year.
Jackson said, “We would all have the same cake, and we would sing happy birthday five times, which would get a little repetitive, but it was still fun.”
These quints have some similarities and differences just like all other siblings.
Ella is the only sibling who is going into healthcare.
“I am a junior nursing student,” Ella said. “I do the women’s soccer club, and the VP to Jackson for the new BU bouldering club.”
Chloe is on the men’s club soccer team because it is more competitive. She also is on the cross-country and track teams at BU.
Communication major Samuel said, “My future career plan is to graduate debt free, get a job in my field and settle down.”
Business administration major Jackson said, “I plan to open a restaurant or work in management.”
Ella plans a career in pediatric oncology nursing and doing some travel/local assignments after a couple of years.
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