I grew up around the machining field. My dad’s business required a lot of machine work, so I would visit machine shops with him and watch the machining process. Working with metal just always fascinated me! So when I was in the seventh or eighth grade, I knew what I wanted to do. In the tenth grade, I started taking Machine Tool courses at the Hamilton Career Center.

I even won the State Machining Championship in 1989! I also was lucky enough to get a job in the machining field at Torrington Company in Walhalla through the career center’s cooperative education program. After high school graduation, I continued my education at Tri-County Technical College and remained in my job at Torrington as a Technical Scholar. I exempted my whole first year of Machine Tool classes at Tri-County because I successfully completed the Technical Advanced Placement process. Technical Advanced Placement (TAP) credit is credit for specific courses at Tri-County based on evidence of skills and knowledge received in similar high school courses. TAP really helped me get ahead in college! As far as college tuition, Torrington would have paid it, but I chose not to accept that. Other people needed that benefit more than I did.

Shortly before graduation from Tri-County, I began working full-time at Torrington and stayed there about 10 years. Last year, I left Torrington because I decided I wanted to be in research and development. That’s why I came to Clemson University. We are always making things for the first time here, prototypes like molds for prosthetic devices that one day may be used to help people. And the money and benefits are great! I like my job and plan to retire right here.