How About That: Felton Grove Athletic Director Wins Statewide Honor, Pine Springs Teacher Earns FUJIFILM Fellowship
Joe Sharrow earns one of NC’s top athletic administration awards, while Pine Springs Prep’s Erin Harden was selected for a biotechnology fellowship tied to Holly Springs’ growing life sciences sector.
Holly Springs, NC, May 13, 2026 — Two local education leaders recently drew statewide recognition, one for building a high school athletic program from the ground up, the other for connecting elementary students to North Carolina’s booming biotechnology industry.
At Felton Grove High School, Athletic Director Joe Sharrow has been named the recipient of the NCHSAA Foundation’s Dave Harris Athletic Director Award of Excellence, one of the state’s top honors for high school athletic administrators.
Meanwhile, Pine Springs Prep fifth-grade teacher Erin Harden has been selected for a prestigious Kenan Fellowship that will place her inside FUJIFILM Biotechnologies’ Holly Springs campus this summer as part of a statewide workforce-development initiative tied to North Carolina’s rapidly expanding life sciences sector.
Building Felton Grove Athletics “From the Ground Up”
The NCHSAA Foundation praised Sharrow for what it described as “one of the most impactful and forward-thinking” careers in athletic administration across North Carolina.
Currently serving as Athletic Director at Felton Grove High School, Sharrow was recognized not only for his work leading the school’s athletic programs, but also for a broader career that has included rebuilding programs, mentoring fellow administrators, and helping shape statewide athletic leadership initiatives.
According to the foundation, Sharrow became the youngest athletic director in NCHSAA history earlier in his career and later helped oversee the consolidation of two high schools into Vance County High School. He also played a major role in transforming Jordan High School into a Wells Fargo Cup-winning athletic program before arriving at Felton Grove.
The foundation said Sharrow’s leadership philosophy centers on creating student-focused environments that emphasize character, opportunity, and personal growth both on and off the field.
Beyond the school level, Sharrow also serves as a faculty member for the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association and has earned the Certified Master Athletic Administrator designation.
The award recognizes athletic directors who demonstrate leadership, integrity, mentorship, and professional development within their schools and across the state.
School leaders said the recognition reflects the work Sharrow has invested in establishing Felton Grove Athletics as both a competitive program and a positive community presence.
Pine Springs Teacher Steps Into Holly Springs Biotech Boom
Across town, Pine Springs Prep teacher Erin Harden is preparing for a summer immersed in one of Holly Springs’ fastest-growing industries.
Harden was selected as one of 36 educators statewide to receive a 2026–27 Kenan Fellowship through North Carolina State University’s Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.
Sponsored by NC BioNetwork, the fellowship will place Harden at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies’ commercial-scale biologics manufacturing campus in Holly Springs, where she will spend the summer learning about biotechnology manufacturing, workforce development, and career pathways in the life sciences industry.
The experience will include visits to manufacturing operations, exposure to regulatory environments, and observation of workforce training programs designed to support the state’s expanding biotechnology sector.
“Educators like Erin Harden are vital to North Carolina’s growing life sciences ecosystem,” said Laurie Braxton, senior vice president and head of North Carolina operations for FUJIFILM Biotechnologies.
Braxton said partnerships among companies, schools, and workforce organizations help students better understand the career opportunities available in their own communities.
Harden said she was drawn to the fellowship because of its focus on connecting teachers directly with industry professionals.
“I believe this program will not only be self-fulfilling in my personal quest to expand my own learning but also incredibly beneficial to my fifth-grade scientists,” Harden said.
The yearlong fellowship includes 80 hours of professional development and a $5,000 stipend to support teachers’ work during the program.
The Kenan Fellows Program, founded in 2000 and based at N.C. State University has supported more than 680 educators across North Carolina through immersive industry experiences designed to bring career-connected learning back into classrooms.
Why This Matters
While the recognitions came through very different fields, athletics and biotechnology, both highlight a broader theme playing out across Holly Springs and southern Wake County: local schools increasingly serving as pipelines for leadership development, workforce readiness, and community growth.
In one case, that means building athletic culture and mentorship opportunities for student-athletes. In the other, it means connecting elementary students to one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing industries before they even reach middle school.
So, how about that?