The 2017 NASCAR Diversity Internship Program (NDIP) welcomed 26 of the brightest students from across the country seeking to learn about the motorsports industry during the Monster Energy All-Star Race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.
This year, 14 former NDIP interns currently working in the industry full-time will help mentor the students throughout the 10-week, paid internship. Mentors include Brandon Thompson, senior director of NASCAR touring series; Lauren Houston, manager of NASCAR Multicultural Development; Pedro Mojica, Richard Petty Motorsports engineer; and Jusan Hamilton, manager of NASCAR racing operations and event management. Hamilton made history earlier this year by becoming the first African-American to serve as a race director for a NASCAR national series event.
“For nearly 20 years, the NASCAR Diversity internship program has provided talented students with hands-on experience in the motorsports industry,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “The program has also helped NASCAR identify future leaders in the industry and continues to serve as an important part of our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.”
In its 18th year, NDIP has introduced hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds to professional opportunities in NASCAR. The program has also served as a pipeline for identifying and hiring top talent across the motorsports industry. In addition to NASCAR, 2017 interns will be working at NASCAR partner companies including Rev Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Pocono Raceway, Toyota and the International Speedway Corporation.
The 2017 NDIP class began its NASCAR experience with an orientation session at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord. The group visited the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte and the NASCAR Production Studio, as well as the race shop for Rev Racing, which fields cars for the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.
The class also put its own racing skills to the test at Victory Lane Karting. In addition, the interns met with key stakeholders in the NASCAR industry including Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew members, drivers and NASCAR executives.
For many, attending the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Monster Energy Open and Monster Energy All-Star race from Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend will be their first live NASCAR experience.
Throughout the internship, the students will contribute to the industry and gain experience working in marketing, engineering, public relations, licensing, diversity and public affairs. They will also learn from leading NASCAR executives in weekly lunch-and-learn sessions and networking events with professionals across the industry.
The NASCAR Diversity Internship program offers diverse students an opportunity to work in one of the largest professional sports industries in the United States. Each year, the internships are available to college sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students across the country. To be eligible, students must be in good standing with their school and community and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
The 2017 NDIP class includes the following students from colleges and universities across the nation:
Name |
Department/Organization |
University |
Alex Alvarado |
NASCAR Public Affairs |
University of Central Florida |
Alton Peques |
NASCAR Marketing, Media Research |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Ashleigh Young |
NASCAR Creative Design |
University of Southern Mississippi |
Bria Dixon |
NASCAR Weekly and Touring |
University of Miami |
Cabrell Cooper |
NASCAR Productions Engineering |
Delaware State University |
Cambric Moye |
Toyota, Logistics |
University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
Carter Allen |
NASCAR Brand Platforms Marketing |
Arizona State University |
Catherine Rivera-Chardon |
Pocono Raceway |
Penn State University |
Dejah Gilliam |
NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications |
Syracuse University |
Federico Morales |
NASCAR Finance |
Georgia State University |
Glen Charlton |
NASCAR Digital |
University of Maryland |
Greg Carty |
Roush Fenway Racing |
Old Dominion University |
Jorge Jones |
NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications |
University of the Incarnate Word |
Kenneth Lee |
The NASCAR Foundation |
Tuskegee University |
Kevin Lee |
Toyota, Information Systems |
University of Texas Dallas |
Kim Brian Fadul |
NASCAR Digital Media |
North Carolina State University |
Lillian Hermina |
NASCAR Industry Services |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Monica Matias |
ISC Public Affairs |
University of Central Florida |
Natalia Mendoza |
NASCAR Green Innovation |
Wake Forest University |
Precious Makuyana |
ISC Legal |
Florida A&M University |
Ronald Alexander |
ISC Partnership Marketing |
Winston-Salem State University |
Sandra Prieto |
NASCAR Member Services |
University of Miami |
Sarah Torres |
ISC Finance |
Penn State University |
Shawn Meachem |
Rev Racing |
Johnson C. Smith University |
Tylar Williams |
NASCAR Human Resources |
Texas A&M College Station |
Zane Smith |
Toyota Engineering |
Southern Methodist University |
NASCAR PR
