Joshua Tharpe graduated from Union County High School in 2013 and enrolled at the University of Tennessee later that year. During his time as an undergraduate, Mr. Tharpe was involved with several research projects that encompassed materials science and engineering (his area of study) and several other disciplines. With support from the Center for Materials Processing, he enrolled in a five-year BS/MS program during the senior year of his undergraduate career and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering with a minor in reliability and maintainability in May of 2017. While Mr. Tharpe was working towards his master’s degree during the fall of 2017, he accepted a position to found an advanced manufacturing program at Union County High School, where he graduated four years prior. In the spring of 2018, Mr. Tharpe began teaching advanced manufacturing part time while completing his course work for his master’s degree in materials science and engineering. In June, he completed the requirements for receiving a non-thesis master’s degree and participated as a mentor for Materials Camp 2018. In fall of 2018, he will begin teaching full time at Union County High School and is excited to use his education to make an impact in the studies of science, engineering, and technology in his home town.