Why I do what I do

I’m Ernest Gephardt, born and raised in Sandy Springs, Georgia. I’m a student at The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta, where I’m part of the Innovation Diploma program. I’m known more for what I fix than what I say, whether it’s a stubborn engine, a broken system, or a piece of equipment everyone thought was long gone.

I get fired up about anything mechanical. Engines, machines, vehicles, boats, planes, you name it. I’ve spent hours tuning up equipment for people and businesses in my community, not for credit or attention, but because I believe in keeping things running and operating for as long as possible. I take pride in being dependable, practical, and hands-on in everything I do.

I’m chasing the kind of impact you can see in a perfectly running machine or a problem solved the right way. My best work happens with grease on my hands and a goal: to fix what's broken, serve those around me, and leave things better than I found them.