STEAM SPORTS FOUNDATION

An Overview

�Purpose

• To establish a strong and inclusive workforce development pipeline for the motorsports and automotive industry by focusing on students with STEAM-based backgrounds and provide them with targeted training and opportunities.

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�The Value of Motorsports

Motorsports - where much innovation, research and development occur - is an essential subset of the automotive industry

The automotive industry is an essential subset of transportation.

The transportation industry is one of the most essential industries of the world economy.

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Three of the world’s top 10 industries are tied to automotive:

• No. 5 – Auto Sales
• No. 7 – Auto Manufacturing
• No. 9 - Auto Parts/Accessories

- IBISWorld

�Scholarships to date

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21 Scholarships

17 students

(Scholarship range $5,000-$10,000)

�Where Are They Now?

• Kimberly Betty (’22): Mechanical engineer at Lear Corporation. Working on master’s at Oakland University.
• Jinelee Galindez (’22): Certified technician at Mercedes Benz of Orlando.
• Ashley Jones (’23, ’24): Ford Motor Company as a plant vehicle engineer for the Bronco Raptor and is now feature delivery engineer.
• Tanya Andres (’23): certified technician at Volvo of Lisle and now works as a warranty administrator for Volvo and Polestar.
• Taya Dinkins-Goldsmith (’23, ’24): General Motors internship while still in high school. interned with Magna International, Lucerne International and begins her next internship with American Axel.
• Arisa Chue (’23. ’24): software engineer at Stripe where she interned following an international studies program in Beijing.
• Jayda Jenkins (’24, ’25): Mechanical engineering major. Graduates in ’27. Toyota’s co-op program during the two most recent terms.
• Ximena Garcia-Pena (’24): Graduates in December. Interned last summer with WSP.
• Kyndal Newsome (’24, ‘25): junior at Florida A&M. Mechanical engineering major. Interned last summer at Newport News Shipbuilding.

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�Where Are They Now? (cont.)

• Hosanna Worku (’24): Mechanical engineering major. Graduates ’26. Focus is on career in automotive or motorsports.
• Magan Cruz-Wingo (’24): associate’s degree in automotive tech. Focus is on a career as a motorsports or automotive mechanic.
• Yassine Coulibaly (’25): Mechanical engineering major. Graduates ’26. Toyota internship in chassis design. Tri-lingual.
• Caroline Johnson (’25): Chemical/Mechanical Engineering major w/ emphasis on business management. Interned at Tesla Space Lab. 1^st ever UCB female chief mechanic for FSAE team
• Tanmaee Ledalla (’25): Mechanical engineering major. Graduates in ’26. SAE’s Tom McCrady Memorial Scholarship. Created women in motorsports council at Purdue.
• Kelly Song (’25): Motorsports engineering major. Graduates in ’27. Motorsports Engineering Club, EV Kart Team, eSport coach.
• Fatou Tunkara (’25): Mechanical engineering major. Graduates in ’27. GM intern summer of ’26. Speaks 9 languages fluently. GA Tech Motorsports, HyTech Racing.
• Najatte Yahaya (’25): Chemical engineering major. Graduates in ’27. National Society of Leadership & Success, Amer. Inst. of Chemical Engineers. Dow scholarship.

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�Four Immersion Tours

• 3 to Charlotte, NC
• 1 to Detroit, MI
• 2 NASCAR race weekends
• 1 NHRA race weekend
• NC Visits to Hendrick Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing, GM Technical & Research Center, UNCC’s Alan W. Kulwicki Motorsports Lab, Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMax Dragway, NASCAR Hall of Fame
• MI visits to Milford Proving Ground, Pontiac Racing Center, Martin Technologies

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�Internationally Acclaimed Documentary

• “Pioneer Engineers – Diversity in Motorsports”
• Produced in concert with HBCUgo.tv that premiered the documentary February 2025
• Earned recognition and/or showings at the following film festivals.
• Paris • New York New Filmmaker
• Florence • New York Movie Awards
• New York International Gold • First Glance Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Independent Shorts • East Village New York
• Milan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9mJrQAaWz8

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�Major Traditional Media Coverage

• Sports Business Journal

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:d4436404-8ec7-40f3-b317-20960f5cd9e1

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• Code M Magazine

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1so10mgF-ziMzzqIAjJgGP5Ff3jWXkBQL/view

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�Social Media

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steamconnections
• X: https://x.com/STEAMCONNECT
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steamconnections/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dickinsonbob/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@STEAMSportsFoundation-ny1cf

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�SSF-Featured Webinars

• Georgia Tech (Sept. 2024)
• Dom Lester, General Motors
• Alba Colon, Hendrick Motorsports
• TaiJaune Robinson, GM Tech & Research Center
• Bob Dickinson, STEAM Sports Foundation

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• CADIA (April 2025)
• Alba Colon
• TaiJaune Robinson
• Bob Dickinson

�Additional Activities/Involvements

• NSBE National Workshop, Atlanta 2024
• General Motors guest affiliate
• Partnership with PT Autosport (2024)
• GT World Challenge/Mazda MX Cup/Toyota GR Cup
• Aspiring Driver Shootout
• SEMA Panel (2024) - Diversity in Motorsports
• Lyn St. James, WINMA
• TaiJaune Robinson, GM Technical Center
• Christopher Harris, African American Automotive Association
• Cheryl Thompson, CADIA
• Bob Dickinson, STEAM Sports Foundation (organizer)

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�The Future

• Develop an internship program within the motorsports, automotive industry.
• Create graduate level scholarships that include internships and industry career path
• Establish an annual career summit addressing industry path into the motorsports/automotive industry in concert with HBCU university and corporate partners
• Targeting Tennessee State University, September 2026

�For More Information

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Bob Dickinson

Executive Director

STEAM Sports Foundation

770-815-0125

bob@steamsportsfoundatio.org