Atlanta, Ga. (May 26, 2022) – Buoyed by a $20,000 grant from the 23XI Racing SPEED Institute, the STEAM Sports Foundation has raised the awareness bar for its “Women of Color” scholarship grants for the 2022-23 academic year. The foundation will award two deserving women with scholarships to support their educational pursuits.
The scholarships will be divided between a technical school student and a rising junior university student, with each student receiving $5,000 per year. The grant will target women of color seeking engineering or technician careers in the automotive or motorsports industry. In addition, an internship within the motorsports industry will be provided to both recipients during the 2023 season. The deadline to apply is June 15.
The SPEED Institute is 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative expands on the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in sports, specifically in the motorsports industry. 23XI Racing, along with its partners under the SPEED Institute program, will provide educational opportunities as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field. Founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020, 23XI Racing is currently in its second season competing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Through the SPEED Institute, we have been very intentional about providing opportunities for those seeking careers in motorsports or the automotive industry, especially those who have faced the marginalization of race or gender inequities,” said 23XI Racing President, Steve Lauletta. “Through our growing efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion, we hope to find talent who can contribute in areas of engineering and competition, and perhaps one day have a significant role with a team or the industry.”
STEAM Sports Foundation awarded its first “Women of Color” grant last year to Kimberly Betty of Kettering University. Betty is a junior at Kettering, majoring in mechanical engineering. She will participate in an internship this summer in Charlotte under the auspices of NASCAR.
The foundation, started in 2016 by motorsports executive Bob Dickinson, hopes to raise $100,000 over the next year to provide additional opportunities to women representing marginalized demographics and seeking career opportunities within the automotive sector, particularly motorsports.
“We know that the automotive and transportation industries are among the most vital to the world’s economy,” said Dickinson, “and we encourage applicants to not only pursue opportunities within that industry but also to consider careers that emphasize the future of automotive – electric and autonomous vehicles.
“The grant from the 23XI SPEED Institute helps provide an opportunity for young women of color who have looked around growing up and not seen women who looked like them in these roles. They now can begin to realize that jobs in these industries are indeed realistic and attainable.”
For corporations, foundations, or individuals seeking more information about the STEAM Sports Foundation’s “Women of Color” scholarships and how to contribute CLICK HERE.
STEAM Sports Foundation is a registered charitable foundation of the American Online Giving Foundation via its Benevity portal and can be accessed via its website: http://causes.benevity.org. Contributions via Pay Pal and ACH transfers are additional giving options.
CLICK HERE to apply.
For More Information Contact:
Bob Dickinson
STEAM Sports Foundation
770-815-0125
ABOUT STEAM SPORTS FOUNDATION
The STEAM Sports Foundation scholarship for “Women of Color” seeks aspiring female engineers and technicians who desire careers in the automotive or motorsports industry with an emphasis on engineering, alternative energy, or autonomous vehicle development. The two-year, $10,000 grants ($5,000 per year) are open to rising college juniors and two-year technical school students. Applications open in March and can be located at www.steamsportsfoundation.org
ABOUT 23XI RACING
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI Racing its first-ever victory. 23XI Racing expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD.
ABOUT 23XI RACING'S SPEED INSTITUTE
SPEED Institute is 23XI Racing’s educational and professional development initiative, launched in 2021. The initiative expands on the team’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in sports, specifically in the motorsports industry. 23XI Racing, along with its partners under the SPEED Institute program, will provide educational opportunities as well as diversity recruiting and professional development in the motorsports field.
In its effort to support racial diversity, equity and inclusion, STEAM Sports Foundation believes very strongly in providing unique career opportunities to those who previously were not encouraged to explore these innovative fields or believed those opportunities did not exist for them. The foundation desires to be leading agents and advocates for change.