Drew Hanna recently graduated from Greenwich High School and is a rising freshman at Pennsylvania State University, where he will study mechanical engineering. This summer, he is further exploring his passion for hands-on mechanical work through his tractor restoration project as well as his position as a heavy equipment mechanic at Shawn’s Lawns, an excavation company. In recent years, Drew has amassed a staggering online audience on both YouTube and TikTok, where he posts videos documenting his various restoration and repair projects. Currently, he is refurbishing an antique 1940 Farmall M Tractor for the 2023 Chevron Tractor Restoration Competition.

From a young age, Drew was always interested in the processes of taking machines apart and figuring out how they function from the inside out. At twelve years old, Drew decided to restore an old family lawn mower. Following this success, he began collecting discarded push mowers from the Greenwich dump. Drew quickly realized that he could earn a profit by restoring and selling this abandoned equipment. Rather than seeking training, Drew taught himself various restoration techniques, tackling larger projects as he improved his skills. He explained that he prefers to learn by experience, consulting manuals and parts diagrams along the way.

During the summer of 2020, Drew began working on the grounds crew of the Milbrook Club, a position he continued for two summer seasons. Drew was introduced to Shawn’s Lawns —the company he currently works for. Last summer, he was given a trial period working as an equipment mechanic. A good fit for the excavation company, Drew continued working there for the remainder of the summer and was asked to return as a heavy equipment mechanic this summer.

During a typical weekday, Drew wakes up around 5:30am in order to drive to Shawn’s Lawns garage in Norwalk at about 6am. Beginning at 6:30, he will work on his assigned tasks until coffee break at 9am. Drew explained that much of his work is focused on fixing equipment such as leafblowers, bulldozers, excavators, and dump trucks. Following breakfast, Drew will take some time to tidy up his workspace before continuing to work on his projects for the day. Sometimes, he will run to the parts store or drop items off at a job site. His work day ends around 3:30pm.

“When you want to do something quickly… and you cut corners along the way, in the end you’re not going to be happy with the result. You’re going to end up re-doing it again later, so just do it right the first time.”

About the Editor, Maya Hurst

Lived in Fairfield County: 19 years
High school: Greenwich Academy 2021
Favorite song as a child: “All Star” by Smash Mouth
Favorite book from school: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Diner order: Egg and cheese on an everything bagel
Favorite phone game: Happy Hospital

Maya Hurst is a rising junior at the University of Pennslyvania, where she is majoring in Communications with dual minors in English and South Asian Studies. While much of her high school writing career centered on more journalistic endeavors such as her work with the Greenwich Sentinel, Greenwich Academy Press, and Daedalus Art and Literary Magazine, Maya has shifted her focus during college in order to further explore a variety of writing disciplines. At UPenn, Maya is a College Peer Advisor, a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and is a member of the community engagement committee for the Penn Reproductive Justice Working Group.

Last summer, she began working as a marketing and communications intern with Embellish Beauty, a Black and Native-owned vegan makeup company based in the Philadelphia area. Maya continued this position throughout her sophomore year of college, featuring the brand as the center of her final project for a Digital Marketing and eCommerce course.

This summer, Maya is interning at Fairfield County LOOK magazine. Maya is grateful to Elaine and ChiChi Ubina for providing her with this opportunity; she has truly enjoyed and appreciated learning about the magazine’s processes of cataloging events and sharing the stories of Fairfield County residents. Additionally, she has an internship at Polisi Jones Communications, a strategic advisory firm. Throughout this experience, Catherine Polisi Jones has been an incredible mentor to Maya, teaching her valuable skills in effective corporate communications and public relations. Lastly, Maya is working part-time at rag & bone on Greenwich Avenue, where she has loved learning both the fundamentals and intricacies of high-end retail sales from her incredible managers, Jessica Pereira and Michelle Penchenski, and her supervisor, Angela D’onofrio.