Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship

Ever since I first set foot in my high school’s automotive workshop as a freshman, my career hopes have been firmly rooted in the automotive industry. The sound of engines, the challenge of diagnostics, and the satisfaction of solving complex mechanical issues have all combined to spark a passion that has only grown stronger with each new year. Now, as a fourth-year student in my school’s automotive technology program, I can say with confidence that my ultimate career goal is to become a master certified auto mechanic and, eventually, to open my own automotive repair shop. This goal is about more than just personal achievement; it is about contributing to an industry that keeps the world moving and supporting the community that has helped shape who I am. What excites me most about the automotive industry is its constant evolution. The cars of today are not the cars of yesterday—advancements in technology, safety, and sustainability are rapidly changing the landscape. My career hopes are directly tied to this evolution. I want to be at the forefront of these changes, learning everything I can about hybrid and electric vehicles, advanced diagnostic systems, and environmentally friendly repair practices. My ambition is to become not just a skilled technician, but a lifelong learner who adapts to new technologies and helps others do the same. I see myself earning advanced certifications, attending industry trainings, and one day mentoring the next generation of mechanics as they enter this dynamic field. Beyond technical expertise, I hope to build a career founded on integrity, service, and respect. I believe that auto mechanics play a vital role in people’s lives by keeping them safe on the road and ensuring their vehicles are reliable. My dream is to create a repair shop where customers feel confident and cared for, knowing they are getting honest advice and quality work. I want to establish a reputation for transparency and fairness, making sure that everyone—no matter their background—has access to trustworthy automotive service. This commitment to service is deeply personal to me, as I have seen the difference that honest, skilled mechanics can make for families like mine. In the coming years, I hope to use my career in the automotive industry to make a broader impact as well. I am passionate about environmental stewardship and want to promote sustainable practices within my shop, from proper recycling of materials to embracing new technologies that reduce emissions. I also hope to give back by offering opportunities for young people interested in automotive technology—through internships, apprenticeships, or mentorship. By sharing my knowledge and experience, I want to help others discover the same passion that has guided me. In summary, my career hopes are to become a master technician, a business owner, and a positive force for change in the automotive industry. The skills I am developing now are the foundation for a future where I can support my community, promote innovation, and inspire others to pursue their goals in this exciting and essential field.

For as long as I can remember, cars have captured my attention – especially performance cars. The sound of a perfectly tuned engine and the feeling of a machine responding exactly the way it should - those things have made me focus in a way nothing else has. I have been in 4-H since I was five years old, and we have always talked about ways to “find your spark.” Cars are definitely the “spark” for me. As I prepare to graduate high school, I’m excited to take the next step by attending Universal Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina for automotive technology so I can build a career doing what I love every day. Some of my best memories come from taking road trips with my grandfather to car shows. He’s the one who taught me to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the craftsmanship behind every vehicle. Those shows weren’t just about shiny paint or loud exhausts. They were about connection, learning, and imagining the kind of technician I could become. Cars have always represented freedom to me: the freedom to explore, to create, and to build a future with my own hands. I’ve already had the chance to get real experience working at a body shop, where I learned quickly that mistakes aren’t failures—they’re lessons. The technicians there pushed me to try things, even when I wasn’t confident yet. I’ll never forget the first time they let me “diagnose” a problem on my own. I didn’t get everything right, but I got enough right that they celebrated with me. That moment showed me that this is the environment where I thrive: hands-on, fast-paced, and full of opportunities to grow. Last year, I was formally diagnosed with ADHD. Understanding that part of myself helped me make sense of the challenges I’ve faced, especially with focus and frustration. But working with cars has become one of the best tools I have for managing it. Automotive work forces me to be patient, to slow down, and to think step by step. It’s helped me build a stronger work ethic and taught me how to stay calm when something doesn’t go right the first time. The garage has become a place where I can channel my energy into something productive and meaningful. My goal is to start my career as a Ford technician. I want to master the fundamentals, learn from experienced professionals, and build a strong foundation in diagnostics and repair. From there, I hope to specialize in German performance vehicles (focusing on brands like BMW and Porsche) where precision and engineering excellence reach another level. I know that path will take dedication, training, hard work and time, but I’m ready for it. This scholarship would help me take the next step toward a career I’ve dreamed about for years. I’m committed to working hard, continuing to grow, and becoming a technician who not only fixes cars but understands them. Thank you for considering my application and for supporting students who want to build their futures through skilled trades.

To some, the roar of a high-performance engine is nothing more than a loud disturbance. For me, however, that sound is a symphony. I love the visceral feeling of an engine firing up and the echoing roar of the exhaust as a car drives away. The automotive industry isn't just a potential career path for me; it is my definitive future destination. My journey toward this goal began long before I could even reach the pedals of a truck, rooted deeply in the steady rhythm of my father’s garage. Ever since I can remember, I watched my father work on his vehicles with a level of precision and dedication that left a lasting impression on me. By the age of five, I wasn't just playing with toy cars; I was attempting to "service" them, mimicking the movements I saw my father make under the hood of his own car. By the time I turned ten, my curiosity had evolved into a hands-on apprenticeship. I vividly remember a pivotal moment when my dad picked me up in his work truck and took me to his professional shop. He gave me a full tour of the facility, and to this day, I can still recall the layout and the atmosphere of that shop. Another core memory involves helping him paint my cousin’s car. As I helped him take the paper off the car, revealing the fresh finish, I realized that I wanted to go into the same job field as my dad. My interest in the automotive field was further fueled by childhood wonder. At five years old, my dad showed me exactly what was inside a car engine. At that time, I was obsessed with the movie Cars, and seeing how real engines worked was the best part of my childhood. Today, that curiosity remains just as strong. I still visit my father’s workplace for small tasks, and I am constantly impressed by the quality of work he does. He has spent years showing me different parts of the car and explaining the specific purpose of every component. This has inspired me to be constantly curious about my own vehicle, seeking to understand how every part works in harmony to keep the machine in motion. I am currently a 10th-grade student at East Pennsboro High School, and I attend the Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School (CPAVTS) for Auto Collision Technology. This is my first year at tech school, and it has already begun to solidify my foundation in the industry. As a young technician, I recognize that this scholarship is a wonderful opportunity that can assist in my journey toward my future career. My ultimate goal is to own an automotive shop. In my shop, I will ensure that every vehicle is repaired to the highest safety standards. I plan to be a hands-on leader, working at a pace that ensures perfection without sacrificing efficiency. I want to guide my employees by teaching them how to identify hidden issues and emphasizing the importance of double-checking every weld and part. My mission is to ensure every car is truly "good to go" before returning to the road. Furthermore, I plan to give back by offering high school students co-op opportunities and training, showing them the many rewards of entering the automotive trade. This scholarship matters because it supports my plan to graduate, attend further technical schooling for mechanics, and eventually enter the workforce as a well-rounded expert. Sincerely, Brayden Druckemiller

1250. The 2026 Corvette ZR1X produces 1250 hp. This is hard to imagine since it seems just a few years ago, 400 horsepower was fast for a sports car. The engineering of cars is becoming more advanced each year. Cars prove year after year that they are at the forefront of human innovation. Cars’ performance continually improves despite their technology seeming to push the limits of engineering. Each year, I look forward to attending my favorite car show, Corvettes at Carlisle, with my dad and experiencing firsthand the Corvette’s innovations. It is hard to imagine how the engineers will be able to develop a more advanced car, but somehow they do year after year. My interest in performance cars has inspired me to pursue a mechanical engineering degree from Kettering University. One day, I will be a Corvette automotive engineer showcasing the latest technology advancements at Carlisle. Cars have always been significant in my family. One year ago, my dad fulfilled a childhood dream and bought his first Corvette, a 2019 Grand Sport. My mother still owns and drives her first car, a 1997 Mustang GT. Before those, my grandfather owned a 1973 Stingray and a 1993 Corvette. My passion for cars originated from working on cars with my dad. Performing routine maintenance and replacing clutches, suspensions, and exhaust systems spurred my interest in cars while bringing me closer to my father. We enjoy attending local car meets, and I am searching for a C4 Corvette project car that we can work on before I leave for college in the fall. I always knew Corvettes were special among all other cars. A Chevrolet can outperform multi-million dollar Koenigseggs and Bugattis. Some people refer to Corvettes as a “fake supercar” or a “poor man’s Ferrari,” but I know the Corvette is in a class of its own! The introduction of the mid-engine C8 is attracting younger Corvette owners. Parking lots become impromptu car shows with owners parking their Corvettes far away from the entrance. Corvettes are much more than a car; they are a community of like minded car-enthusiasts. You can spot a Corvette owner’s tall white socks, crispy white New Balances, jorts, and their Corvette hat from a mile away. Many challenges exist in the automotive industry that inhibit performance-oriented cars. Restrictive EPA regulations and state laws dramatically decrease the power output. While EPA restrictions are being reduced for manufacturers under the current administration, tighter regulations will likely be implemented by future administrations. I hope to develop engines that meet EPA restrictions, are legal in all 50 states, and still offer high performance at an affordable price, making high-performance cars accessible to the average consumer. I want to bring back the naturally aspirated big block engines of the '60s and '70s American Muscle and deliver modern performance numbers. I also want to design systems that make cars easy to service, whether this is for the consumer to work on their car or to reduce maintenance costs at the dealership. The future of the automotive industry is uncertain. Mandates for fully electric vehicle production have been rolled back, and companies have scaled back EV production significantly. It is an exciting time to enter the automotive industry, combining the best of electric motors and gasoline-powered engines to break current performance barriers. My studies at Kettering University are the first steps on my journey to become a Corvette engineer designing the next generation Corvette using an internal combustion engine to surpass 1250 hp.

My passion for the automotive industry started when I was 16, working on small engines and anything I could get my hands on. What began as curiosity quickly turned into something more. I started bringing home free curbside lawn mowers, modifying my bike with an engine—and then a bigger engine—and spending hours figuring out how things worked and how to fix them when they didn’t. I realized early on that I enjoyed the challenge of diagnosing problems and the satisfaction of getting something running again. I didn’t always feel motivated in school, and I struggled at times with direction. That started to change once I found something that actually interested me. My high school offered welding and auto classes, and for the first time, I wanted to be there. I was drawn to the hands-on problem solving and the process of figuring things out. That interest kept growing the more time I spent working on engines. My parents saw that shift and supported it. They gave me space in the garage and helped me get started with tools. I was able to graduate early in January and started working in the service department at a Subaru dealership. My hours are 6:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which some people questioned, but for me it’s been easy because I actually like going to work. Every day, I try to learn something new and improve my skills. This experience has made it clear that this is the path I want to continue. Of course, most of my paycheck goes right back into a project. I bought a 2002 Chevy Silverado farm truck that needs a lot of work, including fixing the door lock, changing the oil, replacing the filters and tires, and swapping out a fuel injector. Along the way, I picked up habits like staying organized and paying attention to detail, but more importantly, I realized this was something I genuinely enjoyed. My goal is to become a full-time diesel technician and earn my ASE certifications. I plan to continue working while attending Madison College in the Medium/Heavy Diesel program this fall. I’m especially interested in diesel systems and advanced diagnostics, where there’s always something new to learn. The automotive industry fits me because the work is hands-on, and your effort shows in what you do. Beyond my own career, I also value the community side of the automotive industry. People like Chip Miller helped build a culture where enthusiasts, technicians, and learners come together through shared passion. As I grow in this field, I hope to contribute in that same way—whether by helping others learn, sharing knowledge, or finding better, smarter ways to solve problems. This field has given me direction and confidence. I want to continue building a career where I can keep improving my skills, solve real problems, and do work I’m proud of.

Hello, my name is Grant Keller, I am 18 years old, and I am currently attending The School of Automotive Machinists in Houston, Texas. At school, I am learning the ins and outs of being a great machinist. After graduating, I hope to start a career at Hendrick Motorsports. I believe this would be a great opportunity for me, as it would give me first-hand experience on how a performance shop runs its operation first hand. After gaining experience, my end goal would be to open a shop of my own. One of the reasons I would like to do this is to carry on my grandfather's shop. At a young age, I was inspired to go into this great trade by my grandfather. He owned his own machine shop, working on engines for drag cars and classic cars. Sadly, this year he passed away from cancer. While I was sad, I was also comforted by the fact that I learned so much from him and that I would be carrying on his last name and legacy in this industry. Secondly, I would like to start my own business to provide the best engine machining services there is to offer. Unfortunately, there is a lack of machinists nowadays who do quality work. I would love to be able to not only offer quality machining for a reasonable price, but also CNC production of not only engine parts but whole engines themselves. I believe the best way for me to be able to achieve this would be to have a section of my shop that only deals with the CNC and production side of things. This way, I could have an online storefront and potentially, in the future, do contract work for other companies, manufacturers, and even the government. The other section of the shop would be dedicated to performance engines. This is the part of the shop that would be dedicated to individuals and teams that are in the racing world. My goal would be to do work for NHRA pro stock, Top Sportsman, and other teams that outsource their engine work to American engine builders around the country. I believe that working with these teams and ensuring that I produce quality products for them will also help market my CNC side of the shop for others to give them confidence that my products are guaranteed to work and last. This scholarship will help me achieve these goals by helping me financially take the courses to put these plans into action.

I have enjoyed cars my entire life. My earliest automotive memories involve carefully parking Hot Wheels cars in perfectly aligned rows along the walls of the hallway leading to my bedroom. My parents always got frustrated that our walls were lined with perfectly parked toy cars. As I grew older, my mechanical curiosity in them increased. My grandfather had two Corvettes, and just sitting in the driver's seat sparked my imagination. My other grandfather had a fishing boat, and helping him change the oil provided my first real experience working on an engine. Those early moments instilled an appreciation for the machinery that powers our movement. In my early teenage years, I began tinkering with remote control cars. I have owned three 1/10 scale vehicles that I have modified to have stronger parts, faster and more powerful motors, and custom-painted bodies. I replaced parts when they broke from my shenanigans, jumping the car as high as I could in the back yard or drifting the car into the curb by accident. When I finally got the keys to my first car, my dad's 2012 Ford Focus that he let me drive, I immediately started experimenting with ways to optimize and personalize it. I installed my own speaker system, upgraded the headlights, and meticulously researched reliability modifications. I took over all my own routine maintenance, including oil changes. This method of hands-on learning was incredibly rewarding, and it quickly proved crucial. Near the end of my first year driving, a tire popped at highway speeds. Thankfully, because I had spent so much time working on the car, I had the confidence to safely jack the car up and switch to my spare on the shoulder of the road. While changing a tire is a foundational task, it reinforced my ideas about myself: I enjoy working on, improving, fixing, and modifying cars. I love putting in the physical and mental work to make a vehicle perform at its best. This intrinsic drive is exactly what pushed me to pursue advanced studies in mechanical engineering at Northwestern University. I am no longer just replacing parts; I am learning the foundational science required to design them. Looking forward, I am committed to dedicating my career to the automotive industry. My ultimate goal is to work as an automotive engineer, ideally rooted in manufacturing and design in Southeast Michigan, though I am open to wherever the industry's advancements take me. Whether I am focusing on the efficiency of next-generation powertrain solutions or the complex sensor integration required for autonomous vehicles, I want to be on the front lines of automotive innovation. This scholarship would be an investment in that goal, helping me bridge the gap between the little kid who lined up die-cast cars in a hallway and the engineer designing the next generation of performance vehicles.

I intend to pursue upholstery, as I would love to make people's dream cars come to life. This is something I am greatly passionate about, and I've found it's a dying trade, as it takes so much patience, determination, and an eye for perfection. Growing up, this was always a path I had a heart to pursue, and there is nothing I love more than knowing that through my own hard work, I was able to make my dream come true. My name is Alexis Novell, and I am a student at WyoTech, where I've been studying for about a year and a half. I was raised with a passion for helping others, which has led me to attend many mission trips and spend my youth as a Girl Scout. At WyoTech I have had many astounding accomplishments. I've completed the automotive program and taken every specialty the school has had to offer. I am also a resident assistant, which allows me to connect with the students on campus as we work together to keep the campus clean and presentable. In my spare time I am a tutor and work for the amazing life skills department in hosting school-wide events to promote positive student bonding. One of my greatest achievements was being nominated and accepted as an Eagle Tech, which is the students at the top 3% of the school in grades, attendance, and leadership skills. What I enjoy most about this is that it allows me to help out the students in my classes. Additionally, I am the founder and president of Women of WyoTech (WOW), which is a club I created to give women a safe space where we can serve the community while also ensuring no one has to feel alone in this male-dominated field. The most important piece of this club for me is that it is able to create a support system for the incredible women attending this school. Another achievement I've acquired is a Good Samaritan Pin, which I was awarded for helping a person whose vehicle had broken down on the side of the road. Choosing the school that would be the most successful for me was an easy task, as WyoTech had always impressed me with the hands-on skills and the way that instructors care so much about each student. It is easy to say that I have never been somewhere with better people and better experiences. Having gotten to learn and train in such a great environment, I know that success is coming my way thanks to the great work ethic I have and have only gotten to build upon at this school. This scholarship, should I be accepted, would mean the world to me. Dedicating myself to my education was costly, and I know that the sooner I am out of debt, the sooner I can further let my career blossom. By gaining this scholarship to contribute to paying off student loans, I would sooner be able to invest in my career through the purchase of the tools required for my field of work. I will be graduating from school in 3 months, and needless to say, I am thrilled to be starting my journey. However, there are no words to truly express how grateful and honored I am to have the opportunity to pursue a career that I love so deeply. I greatly appreciate your consideration for this scholarship; thank you.

From a young age I knew that I wanted to be a business owner. I have grown up with business woven into my everyday life. My family owns a business, and I have seen the ups and downs that a business owner goes through every day. After seeing the hard work and dedication that my parents put into our family business, I knew that I wanted to continue what they started to help achieve new business goals. Now you might be wondering how does owning as business relate to the automotive industry. Not every business does but my family's business does. This is because my family's business is Hillbilly Wizard LLC. This is a company where we build high end drive trains for offroad trucks. We mainly specialize in axles, but we also focus on transmissions and T- cases. Finally, the family business also deals in sqaurebody truck parts. We sell used and refurbished parts to help keep the old trucks alive. If that is not related to the automotive industry, I don't know what is. Since we are my family's business that I want to run in the future is a automotive based company we have attended many of the Carlise Events shows to help advertise our products. We attend three of their shows, the Spring Carlise Show, the Carlisle Truck Show, and the Fall Carlisle Show. These shows are a big reason why I want to continue the family business and lead it to new heights. Ever since I started going to these shows with my family at a young age I fell in love with the automotive industry. Weather it was seeing the monster trucks at the truck so or seeing the old cars at the spring and fall shows, I just fell in love with it, and I knew that it was an industry that I wanted to be involved in and one that I wanted to help continue to thrive. If it were not for Carlisle Events, I would not be focusing on getting into the automotive field through my family's small business Hillbilly Wizard. I do not just want to get into the automotive field; I want to help the automotive field to grow bigger than it has ever been before. I have recently been accepted to Messiah University, where I plan to get a degree in business administration. With this degree I believe that I will have gained not only the skills but also the different connections needed to help me thrive not only in the business world but also in the automotive industry taking it to new heights that it has never been to before. In conclusion, I truly believe that I can not only make a difference in the automotive industry but also stand out and be a name that everyone will know just like Chip Miller, not only a local legend but an automotive legend. Carlisle Events has already been a huge part of this journey as if it were not for them my love for the automotive industry would not be the same and I would most likely not be planning to take Hillbilly Wizard to new heights, but I would like Carlisle Events to continue to be a part of this journey. Receiving this Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship will not only help fund my education, but it will also help me achieve my long-term goal of owning a business that is driven by and supports the automotive industry.

“Almost there,” my grandfather said, holding a level up against the wheel. I turned the bottom link another half-turn, and the wheel was finally completely vertical to the ground. Now, on to the next wheel, and after that, the front wheels, which we have to make straight, too. We were doing a rough alignment on the car before we put the body back on, so the alignment is in good enough shape until the car is finished and can be brought to a professional shop for a proper alignment. My grandfather, my brother, and I have been restoring a 1976 Corvette for the last few years. Spending countless hours working on the Corvette with my grandpa and my brother, making jokes, talking, and solving problems together has been an experience I will never forget, and it has brought me closer to my grandpa and my brother than anything else. Cars have always been a point of connection for me with my family. My love for cars started at a very young age, with Hot Wheels and pull-back cars, which my brother would park around me as a baby, and we would then play with when I got older. I also loved the Pixar Cars movies and then the Fast and Furious movies. My passion then went into radio-controlled cars with my father. My father and I would drive the cars whenever we got the opportunity, talk about how to make them better, and work to make them faster and more fun to use. I took an RC car designed for driving on the road, completely disassembled it, then put it back together with custom parts I modified and parts not designed for it, so I could turn it into a rally car. RC cars are a lot of fun to drive and play with, but for me, the most fun has come from fixing and working on them with my dad. Finally, I am old enough to drive, and I have my own car. I work with my father, my brother, and my grandfather on my car, whether that be oil changes, replacing a door, putting in interior lights, or adding a wing to it. Cars have been my connection to my family for longer than I can remember. I will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall to major in mechanical engineering, automotive option, in the hopes that in the future I can help design, improve, and create the cars that can be the connection between other families. I want to create a car that, in 50 years, someone wants to restore with their grandfather.

My love for all things automotive started at a young age. I remember watching my dad change the oil in his car and he let me help move the pan to collect the oil. Ever since then, my career dream has been to own my own automotive shop. I started at the Wilson Tech program for Automotive Technology in the beginning of my junior year of high school. I love the program! I get to work in the garage each day, learning new things and figuring out how to fix problems. I like taking the engine apart and putting it back together. I'm so lucky to attend the Wilson Tech program in the morning and take my core classes in the afternoon at Smithtown High School West. I'm rarely absent from school because I don't want to miss any time working in the garage. I earned "Student of the Month" in my first month of being in the program. Since September, I have been "Student of the Month" two more times. I am most proud of my recent induction into the Automotive Technology National Honor Society. I take pride in being careful and thorough in my work and look to my teachers when I need help or am stuck on a problem. I spend my weekends going to car shows and drift events. One of the highlights of my weekends is when I get to be a passenger during the drift events. It's such an exciting experience even though it makes my mom really nervous! There was also a time that I had the opportunity to help one of the drivers work on this car in between races. I was only tightening a bolt, but I was thankful for the opportunity to help. It was something I will never forget! I am planning on applying to SUNY Delhi and majoring in their Automotive Technology program. I recently took a tour of the school and loved it! I had the chance to speak to the instructors and take part in one of their classes. The students all welcomed me and it felt like a school that I want to be a part of. I know owning my own shop takes more than just a love for cars. In addition to all my auto tech classes, I plan on taking business courses so that I can one day open a successful automotive shop. I want to gain as much knowledge as I can, so my customers have confidence in my work. I want my business to be a place where customers feel comfortable bringing their car.

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life,”- This is a quote I have learned to embrace as I begin my professional life as an engineer. I feel fortunate to have a clear vision for my career and my experiences at Carlisle played a significant role in shaping that discovery and passion. I attended my first Carlisle Event at the age of seven when my grandfather brought his ‘74 Corvette to Corvettes at Carlisle. At the time, my knowledge of cars was limited as I had not yet been bitten by the metaphorical “car bug.” As such, I spent my time shining up the car to prepare it for the parade as a member of “Pap Pap’s Pit Crew.” However, Corvettes at Carlisle turned into an annual August event, and it was here I learned about the engineers who developed Corvettes. From these moments, my career aspiration to be an engineer in the automotive industry was born. With each year at Corvettes at Carlisle, I spent less time in the kids’ tent and more time walking the fairgrounds with my grandfather, attending everything from automotive demonstrations at the grandstand to talks with the engineers. It was through networking with onsite engineers that my passion for Corvettes and the automotive industry grew. I asked them questions about where I should go to college and how I could set myself apart from other aspiring automotive engineers. They helped me pick Purdue University, a top engineering school in the country with coursework tailored to automotive engineering, and pushed me to gain hands-on experience with cars. I subsequently purchased a 1991 Mazda Miata, which I used as a project car to gain that valuable hands-on experience which reinforced my passion for the industry. I received a professional reference from Corvette Chief Engineer Josh Holder, which has allowed me to obtain a summer internship as a Global Product Development Engineer at General Motors in 2026. Corvettes at Carlisle became more than just a car show I attended with my grandfather; it became an experience that allowed me to find my career goal to become a member of the Corvette engineering team. Outside of my time at Carlisle, I have continued my pursuit of an automotive engineering career through hobbies and clubs. I am a vehicle dynamics engineer on the Purdue Electric Formula SAE team where we collectively work to build an electric race car from the ground up. I am also part of a Purdue Grand Prix team, which competes in the largest collegiate go kart race in the country. With my team, Spark Motorsports, I will be taking a leadership role as crew chief next year. Collectively, these experiences are paving the way to reach my career goals by providing me with the leadership, technical, and hands on skills to work in the automotive industry. My desire to become an automotive engineer comes from the ability to impact many people. Cars are a major part of daily life and one of the few technologies where engineering can evoke emotion. Using math and physics to tune handling creates a more immersive experience, while safety features like automatic braking and blind spot monitoring increase driver confidence. I can thank Corvettes at Carlisle for not only turning me into a Corvette enthusiast but also for helping me discover automotive engineering as a career path. I look forward to the day when I can stand in the Corvette tent at Carlisle, not as an attendee, but as a Corvette engineer, proudly representing the GM engineering team.

I grew up around the racing and automotive world. My dad and I would go to drag races and car shows, and whenever helicopters flew over our house from the racetrack, I would always ask him which helicopter was carrying my favorite NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch. We watched the Pocono NASCAR races on TV every year, and I constantly asked when we could finally go see a race in person and watch the M&M’s car. After years of asking, we made that trip in 2023. We went to the truck race and Cup qualifying at Pocono, and it was everything I had imagined and more! Seeing the cars, crews, and haulers in person, hearing the engines, and feeling the energy of the crowd was unforgettable. It was one of those moments that stays with you forever. Since then, my dad and I have gone to many local car shows and events like Ford Nationals at Carlisle. Standing at the top of the hill and looking out over rows of cars stretching across the fairgrounds is a feeling that never gets old. It reminds me of my first NASCAR race, something so exciting and meaningful that I wish I could experience it again for the first time. These moments, especially the ones I’ve shared with my dad, are what built my passion for the automotive world. He introduced me to something he loves, and it became something we now share. That connection is a big part of why this field means so much to me. Because of these experiences, my dream job is to work in the automotive industry, ideally as a racing engineer. I want to be part of the teams that design, analyze, and improve race cars at the highest level. I am currently a third year Mechanical Engineering student at Penn State, and my coursework is giving me the foundation to pursue this path. More importantly, I’ve taken steps to directly connect my education to the automotive industry. I joined Penn State’s Formula SAE team, Nittany Motorsports, where I work on both the aerodynamics and chassis subsystems. Through aerodynamics, I’ve run simulations to evaluate vehicle balance and explore design changes that could improve lap time. I’ve also worked hands-on with carbon fiber, helping develop and document layup procedures, including material preparation, vacuum sealing, and resin application. On the chassis side, I’ve simulated camber geometry to determine optimal static camber values for improved cornering stability. These experiences have shown me how engineering concepts directly translate into performance on the track, reinforcing my desire to work in motorsports. In addition to my technical experiences, mentorship has played a key role in my journey. My mentor, who is a Penn State alumni, was the first person outside my family to tell me that a career in motorsports was achievable and gave me a path to work on chasing my dream. That encouragement helped turn a dream into a goal I could actively pursue. Between my education, hands-on experience, and passion, I am working every day to get closer to that goal. The automotive industry represents more than just a career path for me, it represents the experiences, memories, and connections that shaped who I am. Every time I think about those races and car shows with my dad, I’m reminded of why I chose engineering in the first place. I want to build a career that not only challenges me technically, but also allows me to contribute to the same community and passion that inspired me from the very beginning.

I was eighteen years old, helmeted and gripping the handlebars of my motorcycle on a racetrack in Chennai, India, when I realized I did not simply love speed — I needed to understand it. What made one lap faster than the last? What was the relationship between tire temperature and corner exit angle? That curiosity, ignited on a sun-baked circuit halfway around the world, became the engine of everything that followed. My passion for the automotive world grew into a professional career in American motorsports. I went on to work as a data acquisition intern and then engineer at Bryan Herta Autosport and Team Penske, analyzing real-time telemetry, building fuel strategies, and coordinating technical operations during race weekends in NASCAR and IMSA. Using tools like MoTeC, McLaren ATLAS, and MATLAB, I learned to listen to a race car the way a musician listens to an instrument — every data channel telling a story about what the car needed next. Those roles demanded precision, composure under pressure, and an unrelenting commitment to performance. I gave all three, every single weekend. Today, my career hopes have grown beyond the pit lane. I am completing a Master of Science in Project Management at Harrisburg University, graduating in June 2026, while interning at Subcomponents Plus LLC — a micro-manufacturing company specializing in 3D printing and rapid prototyping for engineered components. My goal is to lead technical programs within the automotive and motorsports industry: managing the cross-functional teams, supplier relationships, and engineering timelines that turn ambitious ideas into competitive results. Project management in motorsports is not administration — it is the discipline that makes speed scalable. As a woman of Indian descent, I was often the only person who looked like me in the room. That never stopped me. If anything, it clarified my purpose. The automotive industry is at its best when it draws talent from everywhere, and I want to be part of building that future — both by excelling in it and by opening doors for those who come after me. Chip Miller clearly understood that the automotive world is not just an industry; it is a community built on shared passion and relentless dedication. Those are the values that carried me from a racetrack in Chennai to the pits of Charlotte Motor Speedway, and they are the values that will carry me forward. I am deeply honored to apply for a scholarship that celebrates his legacy — because that same love for everything automotive is exactly what drives me.

My passion for the automotive field began with the kind of hands-on work that does not always look exciting from the outside, but teaches lessons that last. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Central Texas, where trucks, tractors, trailers, and equipment were part of everyday life. When something broke, it had to be fixed because the work depended on it. Some of my earliest memories are of standing beside my dad while he worked on equipment, holding a flashlight, handing him tools, and trying to understand what in the world he was doing. Those moments started my interest in mechanical work, but over time that interest grew into a deeper passion for engines and the automotive industry. One project that has helped shape that passion is rebuilding the engine in my personal 1995 Ford Bronco with my dad. That project has been more than just putting parts together. It has taught me patience, responsibility, problem-solving, and respect for the details that make an engine reliable. Working through the timing set, cam bearings, pistons, measurements, and reassembly has shown me how much care goes into building something correctly. It has also given me a stronger appreciation for the bond that vehicles can create. Cars and trucks are not just transportation; they often carry memories, skills, family time, and personal pride. I am currently enrolled at the School of Automotive Machinists and Technology in Houston, where I am studying engine block machining and plan to continue into cylinder head machining. What I enjoy most about this field is the combination of precision and creativity. Automotive machining requires accurate measurements and careful procedures, but it also requires problem-solving and judgment. Every engine tells a story through its wear patterns, clearances, and condition. Learning how to understand those details has made me even more excited about pursuing this career. My career hope is to become a skilled automotive machinist and performance engine builder. After completing my program, I want to work in a performance automotive or engine machine shop where I can continue learning from experienced professionals. Long term, I aspire to open my own automotive machine shop, serving both performance customers and everyday drivers. I want to build a business known for quality workmanship, honesty, and consistency. I also hope to contribute to a trade that needs young workers who are willing to learn deeply and take pride in craftsmanship. Chip Miller’s legacy stands out to me because he helped build a community around a shared love for cars. That is one of the things I admire most about the automotive world. Whether someone is restoring an older vehicle, building a race engine, or simply keeping a daily driver on the road, there is a common passion that brings people together. I hope my own career reflects that same spirit by using my skills to serve others, preserve automotive knowledge, and stay connected to the hobby that first drew me in. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my training and move closer to a career in the automotive industry. More importantly, it would support a path that I am genuinely passionate about, working with my hands, building engines, and contributing to the future of the automotive community.

When you hear of an aerospace engineer, you probably don't picture a young girl with dreams of working in the automotive industry; however, that's me. I am a 19-year-old female aerospace engineering student at the University of Michigan who just so happens to dream of working in the automotive industry. More specifically, my career goal is to go into high-performance automotive design with a focus on aerodynamics and how it can be used to improve speed, efficiency, and overall vehicle performance. As an aerospace engineering student, I am especially interested in how concepts typically associated with aircraft can be applied to vehicle design. This intersection between aerospace and automotive engineering is what excites me most, and it has shaped both my academic and personal passion for the industry. What draws me most to the automotive industry is the direct connection between decisions and results. The smallest aerodynamic adjustments can lead to significant improvements in everything from speed and aesthetics to energy and efficiency. The connection between design, engineering, and performance creates a never-ending push for refinement, which is the type of environment I find incredibly motivating, as it goes beyond just designing something that functions, but rather extends to something that exceeds current possibilities. My passion for the automotive industry has only grown alongside my coursework and experiences. Studying aerospace engineering has introduced me to many topics that are essential to aerodynamic optimization. In addition, working on a Formula SAE team has provided me with hands-on experience in how these concepts are applied in practice. Working on such a team has only strengthened my aspirations to work in the performance-driven setting of the automotive industry. Additionally, the collaborative nature of the automotive industry has only drawn my interest in it more. Vehicles, especially high-performance ones, are the result of the combined effort of countless engineers, designers, and specialists, all with one goal in mind. I have found that I thrive in this type of environment, where success builds on communication, trust, and ultimately, teamwork. Being part of a team that is constantly aiming to push the boundaries is exactly where I see myself spending the rest of my life. Beyond the technical side, my passion for the automotive world comes from a thorough appreciation for cars that I have built over the years. I have always been intrigued by the way that every car seems to have a story, whether it be through the simplicity of classic cars or cutting-edge technology found in current performance vehicles. I find it amazing how each era of the automotive industry approaches style, performance, and function differently, yet in the end, they all contribute to the same culture that brings automotive enthusiasts together. This appreciation has not only shaped my interest in engineering but also my connection to the automotive industry and its community as a whole. Chip Miller's legacy is an important reminder that the automotive world is not just about the cars but about the passion and community that come with them. His contributions brought people together through a shared love for cars, which, in the end, is the base of the industry. My goal doesn't end at wanting to build a career in the automotive industry, but to contribute to the culture and innovation of the automotive world.

My career hopes are to become a master automotive technician working for a major car manufacturer or perhaps working with high-performance cars for NASCAR. I live in Alabama which is one of the top states in the automotive industry housing car plants like Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Mazda Toyota, and Hyundai. The demand for skilled technicians is high and continues to grow employing around 88,000 in Alabama. Automotive Mechanics is a field of study that I am passionate about but it is also a career path that is smart, stable, and somewhat versatile. While I have always had a love for cars, my passion for the field of automotive technology was ignited my junior year of high school. That year I enrolled in the Career Technical Educational Center (CTEC) and joined the automotive program to meet my elective requirements. On the floor of CTEC, I knew that my strengths as a hands-on learner-including attention to detail, above average spatial and logical thinking, and a strong work ethic-were going to shine. For the past two years, I have loved learning about vehicle diagnostics, repairs, and routine maintenance. The most favorite lesson was disassembling and assembling an engine and learning how the engine makes the wheels turn, powertrain. The automotive field of study will also let me enjoy another interest which is technology. The latest software and AI in the auto industry is cutting edge technology. How awesome will it be to have a career in a field that you truly enjoy! Anxious and excited, I have been accepted into the automotive program at Shelton State Community College. Starting this August, I will work toward earning an Associate's Degree in Automotive Technology. While attending college, I plan to work part-time in an auto shop in order to gain extra knowledge, training, and experience that a classroom alone cannot provide. Every opportunity I get, whether it is shadowing a seasoned mechanic or diagnosing a vehicle on my own, I will take it. I am striving to become the best in my field and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. Earning a two-year Associate's Degree will allow me to enter the workforce sooner and begin not only making money but building a reputable reputation as a skilled and reliable technician. The sky is the limit for me in this field of study, and this scholarship will bring me one step closer to reaching it.

I want to build something that lasts. That is the clearest way I can describe my career hopes — not just a job, not just a salary, but something real and enduring. I am majoring in Business Marketing with a minor in Entrepreneurship at the University of Findlay, and from my very first semester, I understood that the businesses I am most drawn to are the ones built around products people are genuinely passionate about. Few industries generate that kind of passion more than the automotive world. Growing up, cars were never just transportation in my household. They were conversation, they were ambition, they were something my family took pride in understanding. I learned early that knowing what is under the hood is not just a practical skill — it is a form of respect for the machine and for the people who built it. That curiosity never left me. As I have grown into a student of marketing and entrepreneurship, I have come to see the automotive industry not as something separate from my goals, but as one of the most exciting arenas in which those goals could come to life. My career hope is to build a marketing and brand development company that serves businesses in industries where authenticity matters — and automotive is at the top of that list. The automotive world is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history, with electric vehicles, autonomous technology, and new consumer expectations reshaping what it means to connect a product to a person. The companies that will win in this environment are not necessarily the ones with the best engineering. They are the ones with the clearest story, the strongest brand identity, and the deepest understanding of what their customer actually wants. That is where I come in. I am a first-generation college student, a Division I football player, and the son of a father on disability and a mother raising eight children. I did not have the luxury of following someone else's blueprint. I had to figure out what I was made of early. What I found is that I am someone who leads, who communicates, and who knows how to motivate people toward something greater than where they currently stand. Those are not just football skills. Those are the exact skills that build great brands and great companies. The Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship represents more than financial support to me. It represents alignment — between the values of a man who loved the automotive world and dedicated his life to something meaningful, and a young man who intends to do the same. I do not just want to work in the automotive industry someday. I want to help define how the next generation of automotive brands tells its story. I want to be in the room where the vision is set. And I want to build something that, twenty years from now, someone else points to and says — that is why I believed it was possible. I am asking for this investment because I am ready to earn it.

Cars have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether it was playing with toy cars as a kid or being curious about how things worked, I have always been drawn to anything with an engine. That interest didn’t fade as I got older. it only grew stronger. Instead of just enjoying cars, I started wanting to understand them. I wanted to know what made them run, what caused problems, and how to fix them. That curiosity has shaped my goals and continues to push me toward a future in the automotive industry. One of the biggest steps in my journey has been working in a CNC machine shop. At first, it was just a job, but it quickly became much more than that. Every day, I work with machines that require precision, patience, and attention to detail. If something is even slightly off, the entire part can be ruined. This has taught me the importance of doing things right the first time and taking pride in my work. While I enjoy machining, I realized that I want to take those skills further by applying them directly to vehicles. I want to understand how every system works together and be able to diagnose and fix problems. That realization is what led me to pursue a future in the automotive industry. After high school, I plan to attend MPTC and enroll in the automotive technology program. My goal is to become a versatile mechanic who can work on both domestic and import vehicles. I understand that the automotive field is constantly evolving, especially with the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles, and I want to be part of that future. I am committed to continuing my education, earning certifications, and improving my skills so I can grow along with the industry. For me, being a mechanic is about more than just fixing cars. It is about solving problems and helping people. Vehicles are a major part of everyday life, and when something goes wrong, people depend on mechanics to get them back on the road safely. I want to be someone customers can trust. someone who is honest, dependable, and takes pride in every job. In the future, I hope to build a strong reputation in my community and possibly open my own shop, creating a place where people feel confident and treated fairly. Looking ahead, my goal is not just to have a job, but to build a career that I can take pride in every day. I want to continue learning, improving, and making a positive impact through my work in the automotive industry.

From the time I was six years old, cars have been more than metal, engines, and wheels to me they have been a constant source of comfort, purpose, and inspiration. When life felt overwhelming or uncertain, cars were always there, offering something steady to focus on and something meaningful to understand. What began as curiosity grew into a passion that has guided me through different stages of my life and continues to shape who I am becoming. My love for cars truly took hold the first time I watched Fast and Furious. While many people were drawn to the speed and action, I was captivated by the connection between people and their cars. Each vehicle carried personality, history, and emotion. Those cars represented dedication, loyalty, and the power of craftsmanship. From that moment on, I knew that the automotive world was where I belonged. Cars have helped me in ways I did not fully understand at first. Learning about engines, repairs, and mechanical systems gave me focus when I needed it most. Working with cars taught me patience because nothing works perfectly the first time and resilience, because problems are meant to be diagnosed, not avoided. When something breaks, you don’t give up; you learn, adjust, and fix it. That mindset has stayed with me and has helped me face challenges in my own life. I want to become a mechanic because I believe cars deserve care, time, and respect. The automotive industry is built on problem-solving, skill, and trust. As a mechanic, you are not just repairing vehicles you are restoring reliability, safety, and pride for the people who depend on them. I want to be someone others can trust with something important to them. There is something deeply fulfilling about bringing a car back to life and knowing your hands and knowledge made that possible. My greatest passion lies in restoring older cars that need patience and attention. Classics are not outdated; they are stories waiting to be continued. Every scratch, engine sound, and worn part tells a story of where that car has been. I dream of working on and restoring beautiful classics, especially a Mazda RX-7 FD, my dream car. That car represents precision, creativity, and soul everything I admire about the automotive industry. One day, I hope to open my own shop, a place where craftsmanship matters and every car is treated with care. I want my shop to be known not just for quality work, but for passion and honesty. I also hope it becomes a space where others especially young people can learn, grow, and find confidence through automotive work. The industry gave me direction, and I want to help pass that on. If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that cars are my one true passion. Fixing cars is not just something I want to do it is the life I want to build. The automotive industry allows me to combine creativity, technical skill, and heart into one purpose. Through cars, I found something I believe in, something that keeps me grounded, and something worth dedicating my future to. Cars didn’t just help me find a career path they helped me find myself.

You know the phases children go through when they are young? Well my twin brother and I made it to the car phase, and never grew out of it. Since I could remember I always had a toy car in hand and a love for driving anything with wheels and a motor. Cars have always been in my life. My Dad has a love of cars which he shares with my Mom, and my grandparents as well. It only makes sense that I have a love for anything to do with the automotive industry. I always had a knack for anything to do with wheels or a motor. From riding bikes and quads to driving the ride-on lawnmower and golf karts. I just wanted to be around them and understand how they worked. My parents always told me to never limit myself. Doing the easy thing and not going to college would have limited me, they never pushed me to go to college but I have pushed myself to prove that the possibilities I have created for myself are limitless. Hearing this advice made me push past what was just in front of me, it made me want to reach for something better. This advice is what pushes me to constantly be improving my skills and knowledge in this industry. Every time I achieve something I didn’t know if I could do, but gave it my all anyway, it shows you how limitless things are if you just put in the work. Nothing happens for a reason, but you can make it happen for a reason. My dreams in the automotive industry always started out as being a mechanic. My Dad worked in the industry and I just knew that's what I wanted to do. Up until my senior year that was my plan, I wanted to work at the dealership level and become a master technician. I loved the idea of working with my hands, solving problems, and seeing a car run perfectly again after I fixed it. It felt rewarding and it felt right. However my mind would change as I got more and more people suggesting I apply to go to ASU to become an engineer, after all I always loved building and creating things. I started realizing that engineering could combine my love for hands-on work with problem solving in a bigger way. It could give me the chance to not just fix cars, but also design, build, and improve them in ways I never thought possible. Some of my biggest inspiration to be an engineer stems from watching videos and movies about how cars have been developed and the process with designing and testing. An even bigger aspiration would be to work as an engineer in some form of motorsports, as this is one of my passions. I’ve been into riding ATV's in the dunes since I could walk. I was about 2 and a half when I got on my first quad, haven’t looked back since. These are the aspirations that push me every day. In the end my goals are simple, I want to build a career for myself that keeps me involved in the automotive industry. I want to learn and absorb everything there is to know about this industry, I want to build on my existing technical and hands-on knowledge, and to keep pushing myself to be better. Cars are a passion and a lifestyle, I hope that by continuing on this path I will have created a life for myself that would make that little kid proud.

Vroom! My mom swears that is the first word I spoke as a child. My name is Cristian Martins, and I go by my middle name, Brady. For as long as I can remember, I have always had an obsessive interest in cars. From the cartoons I watched as an infant to the toys I played with, everything in my young world had to revolve around cars. One of the greatest stories my mom tells stems from when I was in preschool. I was just four years old and the teachers had concerns that I wasn’t engaged with most activities. They apologized to my mom for never having any finger paintings or macaroni art to send home to hang on the fridge because they simply couldn't pull me away from playing with cars. There was a young student teacher in the class, and she came up with the brilliant idea to let me use the cars as a means to make art. She squirted some paint on a paper plate and then allowed me to drag the wheels from the toy cars through the paints, making the coolest refrigerator art made of tire treads. My mom loved this teacher's kindness and innovation so much, that the art not only made it to our fridge but became framed artwork in our house. This just goes to show how much cars have meant to me and how supportive my family has been with my love of cars and my decision to seek this career path. As the years have ticked away, my love, passion, and thirst for automotive knowledge has grown exponentially, coming to a head at the end of my sophomore year when my mom and I bought a 1965 Wide Body Convertible Ford Mustang (that was originally being sold for parts) and I began the restoration process. Every night after football and wrestling practice, I found myself in our garage working on bringing the Mustang back to life. From rebuilding the engine and transmission to electrical, and everything in between, my goal was to have it up and running by my senior prom, a goal I can proudly say I met. It was through the restoration process of the Mustang, which I affectionately call "Mamala" in honor of my mustang-loving great-grandmother, that I was able to put together a portfolio of the transformation of the car. That portfolio, helped me be one of only 40 students accepted into the automotive restoration program at McPherson College, the country's only college to offer a 4-year bachelor of science degree in that field. I am so excited to have found my passion at such an early age and have already started my next project, a 1980 Ford F150 Stepside, in honor of my grandfather who drove one. As I venture into this next chapter of my life, I am so blessed to have my family's support with my career path, and can't wait to hit the ground running in the fall.

“Follow your dreams and never give up,” is something my parents have always said to me. As I grew up I watched my dad work his butt off so that we could get by and have food on our table. Every day after work he would come home and spend the rest of his day away from us taking on extra work, working on cars till the sun went down. He inspired me to chase my dreams and hopefully open up an auto shop of my own in the future. I come from a middle class family in the small town of Diboll, Texas. I grew up with my two brothers, one being the oldest and the other the youngest making me the middle child. Both my parents work for Diboll Independent School District, my mother as the child nutrition supervisor and my dad as the transportation supervisor. I am a graduate of Diboll High School. During my high school attendance, I took several CTE (Career & Technical Education) classes. I enjoyed this learning experience in Welding, Automotive Basics and Paint & Refinishing. I participated in Ag Mechanic Shows across the state of Texas. One of my projects earned me a blue ribbon for a shop table that I built for my dad. I also participated in trailer build-offs. Doing these types of hands-on projects were a fun and exciting way to learn. Also, I think it is important to have a job as a teen. It builds character and is a great way to gain valuable work experience and discover new skills and interests. It also teaches you the value of hard earned money. My current work experience includes working for Diboll ISD. During the summer, I work in the maintenance department. Some of the job tasks include general repairs, moving furniture and floor care. I have learned how to strip and wax floors. During the school year, I also worked as a custodian. It has become increasingly harder for schools to find employees in these fields. I think it is important to help out wherever needed. Custodians are an important part of the school community. As a custodian, your responsibilities include ensuring the common areas, offices and classrooms are clean. I am currently enrolled at the School of Automotive Machinists and Technology (SAM Tech) and pursuing an associates degree in applied science so that I can further bring along my skills to help people. I hope that after college I can gain enough money to open my own shop to work on cars and continue doing what I love. I have completed the Engine Block Program at SAM Tech and am currently taking the Cylinder Head Program. I will soon be starting the general education program that will earn me an Associate of Applied Science Degree. I look forward to furthering my education by completing the CNC Machining Program as well as the EFI Calibration Program. With the wealth of knowledge I can gain from SAM Tech, I feel confident that I will be able to achieve my goals and succeed in a successful career. In conclusion, I hope you consider me for this scholarship as it would benefit me greatly. I would love to be able to further my education and fulfill my dream of owning my own auto shop. I am following in my dad’s footsteps and want to show him how much this means to me. I think furthering my education is one way I can do this.

I am applying for this scholarship because I love being an auto mechanic; it will put me in a well-founded and fulfilling career where I will be able to get my hands on something. Growing up as a little boy, I was highly fascinated with vehicles—naming makes and models, collecting Hot Wheels, and spending hours on YouTube watching the building of cars. For instance, I would go with my dad to do some repairs in the house or the car, and while working, he would tell me how such and such in a car works or how this or that would work; all of these, over time, crystallized an obvious career ambition to be an auto mechanic. I am interested in transforming my passion for vehicles into a professional life that may also enable me to help people keep their cars running safely while also educating them about how different things function in their daily rides. Working with my hands, problem-solving, and being part of the safety and reliability of vehicles are some things that excite me. This would be too much to handle since the cost to study and train for such a profession is overwhelming, and this scholarship would go a long way in ensuring I receive the much-needed skills and knowledge associated with being an auto-certified mechanic. Later in life, I want to be an influence within the field of automotive by not just properly fixing automobiles but also being a source that others within my community can count on. A majority of people worldwide do not have basic knowledge of how to service their cars or how their vehicles work, leading mainly to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions. It would be my aspiration to become the kind of mechanic who establishes long-term relationships with his customers by educating them about their cars while at the same time providing quality and reliable service. I want to be in a position to assist people with their decision-making capabilities when it comes to car care, saving money and preventing repairs. This is important because through this, I will be able to give back to my community by being a mentor to interested young people in auto mechanics who need a good role model and a means of support. I think that sharing skills and experiences among the many developing talents is very necessary within the industry. A right scholarship would translate to an opportunity to take a starting point toward these goals in making a difference not only in the automotive industry but overall.

I have always had a passion for cars and racing, inspired by my grandfather, who was a car enthusiast and once owned Ferraris and Alfa Romeos. He often shared stories about those cars and spoke excitedly about the old days of Michael Schumacher racing against Ayrton Senna. While I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I knew it had to involve racing in some way. By the time I was finishing high school, I decided I wanted to work with cars, though I didn’t yet know in what capacity. I took a gap year, and during that time, I watched more Formula 1 than ever. One day, I started paying closer attention to the engineers behind the cars. While they are not as prominent as the drivers, they are just as important to the success of a team. I began looking into the career path of a race engineer and realized it was more possible than I had expected. That is when I decided to pursue mechanical engineering. I know I will likely need to earn a master’s degree, but this path feels like the perfect fit. It allows me to combine my passion for cars with my love for racing. The idea of going from being a Red Bull Racing fan to actually working for the team is incredibly motivating. While race engineers may not earn the highest salaries, they gain unique and exciting experiences that are far more meaningful to me. I also have a strong passion for the German language. In high school, I participated in an exchange program in Germany, where I met people who became like a second family. I have been studying German for five years and plan to either minor or double major in it. I have considered living abroad in the future, and a career in Formula 1 would support that goal very well. Since this is a dream job, I do not expect to reach it right away. That is why I plan to start by working with auto manufacturers, especially German companies like BMW. Being able to work for my favorite car manufacturer would be just as much of a dream as working in F1. My main interests lie in the aerodynamics of the car, as well as the engine and drivetrain designs. That is why I am currently participating in my university's Formula SAE team. Since I am only a freshman, I do not have that much knowledge of my major yet. Being a part of this team gives me gives me the experience I need in order to learn more about my interests for my career Ultimately, I hope to contribute to the future of the automotive industry, whether through manufacturing street cars or designing race cars.

Automotive engineering design has always interested me since before I could even identify it myself. My Dad can recall many instances of how fascinated I was around cars and trucks as a little kid. I had always loved running around new car lots, jumping from one driver's seat to the next, choosing the vehicle I liked most, and not wanting to leave without purchasing it. I would also get attached to my Dad's trucks, becoming a distraught little child whenever he received a new one. Car shows and auctions have also caught my eye, as I am just in awe of the variety of body designs and have observed the many trends throughout the decades. CAD software was also a platform I enjoyed throughout middle and high school, and I now get to apply those skills in my professional career. Throughout my undergraduate journey, I spent 21 months as a professional engineering co-op at a tier-1 supplier in the automotive industry. Growing up, I always had a passion for cars and knew my purpose was to impact vehicle design somehow. While my mechanical engineering courses taught me extensive knowledge regarding the functionality of various systems, a significant concept was often brushed over: sustainability. I remember the moment I realized how prominent this issue was throughout the engineering process. It was mid-morning in the spring of my first year when I was told to throw out 100 plastic parts, which were completely fine in my eyes at the time. They showed some imperfections from the molding process but, in my opinion, would sell at a discounted rate. When I reached the dumpster, I was appalled at how much product was dumped daily. This was only the beginning. Having started my full-time career, I have seen plenty of scrap plastics across many offices, plants, and shops. I developed a great concern regarding the responsibility of humans impacting the planet. For my undergraduate thesis, I spent two years researching how to minimize carbon footprints through processing and recycling scrap from compression molding. Many engineering practices utilize materials throughout molding trials without regard to what happens to their parts once they’ve performed accordingly. The amount of money organizations spend to truck garbage out to landfills is disgusting. None of this is talked about enough. We are running out of time to be able to reverse the effects of the decisions that have already been made. I picked up a minor in sustainability to further my knowledge of what technologies are out there and how they may be implemented in the automotive sector. I also started to train on a platform called Mobius to create a database to show how much carbon is produced throughout every step in processing. Very few people consider how a product is sourced, sterilized, prepped, and shipped. Instead, the majority care more about how much it costs and how timely their deliveries may be. My purpose for furthering my education is to close the experience gap with older coworkers by learning the most cutting-edge technology regarding a more circular engineering life cycle. This new information will give me data to back up my claims, and the degree will put more respect for my name as a woman in engineering. I aim to reconfigure automotive design processes and inspire other companies to follow for a better world.