Eight Female Students Earn Scholarships to Pursue Careers in Motorsports and Auto EngineeringGrants Range from $5,000-$10,000

Alpharetta, GA (July 17) – Eight female engineering students representing leading universities throughout America have earned a prestigious STEAM Sports Foundation scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.

Scholarships range from $5,000 to $10,000. They are granted based on achievement, involvement in motorsport/automotive activities and organizations, related internships, and an intention to seek a career as an engineer in the motorsports or automotive industry.

Receiving scholarships for the upcoming academic year are:

Yassine Coulibaly (Cornell) is majoring in mechanical engineering. She is a member of Cornell’s Formula SAE (FSAE) racing team where she worked on suspension links research and design and will be designing the rockers for the upcoming design cycle. This year’s team made it to the finals in the design event competition. The trilingual student is interning with Toyota in chassis design and wheel engineering and says her perfect first job would be working in the motorsports or auto industry where she can learn from a team of engineers. She lists her favorite race series as Formula One and Lewis Hamilton as her favorite driver whom she sees as a successful minority role model who has worked hard to get where he is and is not afraid to speak about the challenges.

Jayda Jenkins (UT/San Antonio) is a two-time recipient majoring in mechanical engineering. A member of NSBE, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Women in Motorsports N.A. (WIMNA), she is planning a career in motorsports where fast-paced problem solving has great appeal. The Klesse College Engineering Ambassador is a member of USTA’s FSAE team where she has worked on aerodynamics, suspension design and construction for the race car. She has spent the last two terms in Toyota’s co-op program as a quality engineer in its Texas vehicle plant. She, too, lists Lewis Hamilton as her favorite driver and likes the high-tech precision and design of F1.

Caroline Johnson (Cal-Berkeley) is majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in mechanical and a concentration in business management. She began her involvement with the UCB Formula SAE Electric Vehicle (FSAE EV) team as the manufacturing lead across eight subteams, later earning the distinction of becoming the university’s first-ever female chief mechanical engineer for the EV team. A SWE member, her passion for robotics and thermodynamics has led her to prolonged internships and apprenticeships at Tesla and the Space Sciences Laboratory. In her leadership positions, she encourages female participation and diversity. An admitted F1 fan, her favorite driver is Lewis Hamilton.

Tanmaee Ledalla (Purdue) has served as Project Director for Purdue’s AMSE Racing Team, created the Women in Motorsports Council, and won the Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Junior award. She has a passion for design and wants to make a long-lasting impact on optimization of battery management. As part of her mantra of “leaving things better than I found them,” she organized a car show for women with participation from Red Bull, Toyota, and Goodyear. She cites a penchant for service as well as ways to uplift women within the industry. She sees herself having a motorsports career and aspires to a job with IndyCar following graduation. An F1 fan as well, her favorite driver is Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Kyndal Newsom (Florida A&M) is a two-time recipient involved in NSBE, SWE, Formula SAE, STEM 4Girls and Civitan Club. The mechanical engineering major has done research on drones, fluid dynamics, polymers, and training systems. Interning at Newport News Shipbuilding this summer, she envisions a career in the auto industry (perhaps an OEM) and credits the films “Fast and Furious” and “Hidden Figures” for her embrace of cars and diverse opportunities. NASCAR is her favorite race series; 23XI’s Bubba Wallace, her favorite driver.

Kelly Song (Purdue) is majoring in Purdue’s unique motorsports engineering program and is a member of Motorsports Outreach where she has built a racing simulator and been responsible for sponsorships/partnerships. She is a member of the Motorsports Engineering Club as a sim data engineer, an EV Kart team member, and is a member of the Indiana University Indianapolis varsity League of Legends team, where she runs that program. Seeking a career in sports cars or FormulaE, she envisions taking what she learns there and helping to make hybrids and EVs more efficient. Diagnosed with ADHD, she calls “learning to advocate for herself” one of life’s great lessons. IMSA is her favorite race series with Wayne Taylor Racing, her favorite team. She also enjoys the European Le Mans series (ELMS).

Fatou Tunkara (Georgia Tech) is a mechanical engineering major who began working on cars at an early age as an auto care technician. She has designed and built a fully functional electric skateboard and restored a Chevy Cruz. She is active in Georgia Tech Motorsports and Hytech Racing and envisions working in motorsports – perhaps as an F1 mechanic. Despite growing up in a low-income household that presented constant challenges, she established a passion for design, performance testing, and racing with drag racing being her all-time favorite. Other favorites are IndyCar, ETRC (electric truck racing) and F1 where she follows drivers in the title chase closely. She is currently trying to build a “drift shopping cart.”

Najatte Yahaya (North Carolina A&T) is involved with NSBE, SWE, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and National Society of Leadership & Success. The chemical engineering major has been able to combine her love of science with automotive/motorsports that foster innovation. Born in Niger and the first in her family to go to college, she admits to having to learn to adjust to American culture by leaning on her own resources, embracing growth, and asking questions. She would like to work for NASA or NASCAR after graduation and lists Hendrick Motorsports as her favorite team.

Jenkins, Johnson, and Song were awarded $10,000 scholarships. All others received $5,000 grants.

“We had a record number of applicants this year,” said Bob Dickinson, the foundation’s executive director and founder. “Our intent is to provide aid and help develop career opportunities for women from under-represented communities who want to have an engineering career in motorsports or the automotive industry. That number is growing, but the industry as a whole needs to continue to be intentional about encouraging these students to become pioneers.”

In addition to the scholarships, the foundation provides two “Immersion Tours” per year. One is designed to take the students behind the scenes during a major race series weekend. The other provides a unique glimpse of a major automotive manufacturer, hosted by General Motors, at several of its Michigan facilities.

“We provide a good indoctrination into what working for a motorsports team, series, OEM, or Tier One Supplier might look like,” says Dickinson. “And, of course, we are always seeking internship opportunities for these exceptional students.”

About STEAM Sports Foundation

Recognizing workforce and economic development as integral parts of corporate growth, STEAM Sports Foundation collaborates with companies, educators, and sports groups to develop initiatives around science, technology, engineering, arts, and math that impact the world of sports & entertainment. 



The foundation’s primary focus is on scholarships and career summits to help create tomorrow’s vibrant workforce. Its scholarship program in automotive/motorsports engineering for under-represented communities provides opportunities to a transportation industry that is ever-changing via innovation and technology with individuals who traditionally did not consider these career paths simply because they saw few who looked like them in the industry.