To say that Hampton student Zack Oliver is driven would be an understatement.

The senior, who is a part of Daniel Arnett’s Architecture and Engineering and Design Class at Hampton High School, was recently named to the Workforce Career Readiness Class of 2019 100 High School Students America Needs to Know About.

“I found out during work by reading an email,” said Oliver. “I was astonished. It was just fantastic.”

Oliver, who has already been accepted into Milligan’s mechanical engineering program, was the lead designer on the Battle of the Builds project that won a group of Carter County CTE program students first place at a contest hosted by the Johnson City Area Home Builders Association. It was the second year in a row that Carter County had won the Battle of the Builds contest, and Oliver was involved both years. This year, Carter County submitted a pool table that was built into the bed of an old pick up truck.

“Once we found the pool table, I was able to measure it and draw it up on the computer,” said Oliver. “I took those and sent them over to Cloudland so they could weld a frame for us. All that was then sent over to Unaka where they painted it for us.”

Oliver said that the hardest part of drafting the designs for the pool table was making it so others could understand.

“What I drew it up initially was for a drafter,” said Oliver. “I wasn’t thinking as to how I should draw it up so they could understand it. I realized that right before sending it. I had to change it.

“The other hard part was actually getting around the table to measure it by myself,” said Oliver.

Oliver said that he joined Arnett’s class when he was a freshman and every since joining that he has grown to love engineering.

“It just clicked with me,” said Oliver. “I came back my sophomore year and had him both semesters. I came back my junior and senior years also. I just love it.”

Oliver is a five-time state champion. He has won twice at the SkillsUSA competitions for Additive Manufacturing while winning Technical Students Association competitions for both CAD Engineering and Technical Problem Solving. Oliver also took first place in the UT Engineering Day Penny Boat Contest and third place in the Egg Drop Contest.

When speaking about Oliver, Arnett said that he is possibly the best student he has had over his 11 years of teaching at Hampton.

“He is probably one of the best students I have had as far as work ethic and intelligence level,” said Arnett. “His work ethic is beyond me at his age. He is there beside of you through thick and thin.

“When we have had to physically assemble projects, he is there from start to finish,” added Arnett. “He doesn’t quit. He is not in it for a sprint. He is a marathon runner.”

Oliver is president of Hampton’s chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America. He is also president over both of Hampton’s chapters of SkillsUSA and TSA.

When asked how he juggles all of the projects and groups he is a part of, Oliver simply said, “Carefully.”