In May 2019, Tahir Upshaw walked across the stage at Kennesaw State University’s Commencement to earn his degree in mechanical engineering, a culminating moment after years of personal sacrifices and perseverance. Despite early setbacks in his academic career, Upshaw relished in earning his degree, in part, because of the community he built at Kennesaw State and through the mentorship of faculty in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET). He has turned that experience into a fruitful career as an integration engineer and tech lead at Emory Healthcare, where he has contributed to innovative healthcare technology projects.