Clemson Student Wins Dale Earnhardt Foundation Scholarship
May 24, 2009CLEMSON, SC – May 22, 2009 – Clemson University’s first motorsports innovation partner, the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, has announced the winner of its annual undergraduate scholarship, Michelle Phillips of Ellisville, Mo., a rising junior majoring in mechanical engineering. She is the first woman to receive the scholarship, which was founded in Dale Earnhardt’s honor.
Phillips will receive the Dale Earnhardt Motorsports Scholarship at a
4 p.m. announcement on Saturday, May 23, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend.
“We are honored to be able to award this scholarship to a deserving student each year and help them pursue their education and career in motorsports engineering,” said Teresa Earnhardt, CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. “To be able to recognize a young woman who is excelling in this field is even more special to me. We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward to her representing the Dale Earnhardt Foundation as our Clemson Motorsports Scholar. And we hope to see Michelle in NASCAR in the coming years.”
Phillips has always been a fan of racing, and found a way to unite her love of the sport with her passion for engineering.
I was bitten with the racing bug with the first race I ever saw on television, and I am excited to be selected for the Dale Earnhardt Foundation scholarship,” Phillips said. “This is a great opportunity to pursue the field that I love. I’d like to thank the Dale Earnhardt Foundation and Clemson University for this chance.”
Phillips is active on the Clemson Formula SAE team, having served as purchasing and logistics manager, head of crash structure design and testing and lead manufacturing assistant. Next year she steps up to team leader.
“People ask me all the time about being in a male-dominated sport, and I tell them I work with great people every day. I also love the fast pace and hands-on side of things. An added bonus is that I can fix my own car,” said Phillips.
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation funds the annual undergraduate scholarship in memory of Dale Earnhardt for students interested in motorsports and automotive engineering. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation provides a three-year undergraduate scholarship for a student in Clemson’s College of Engineering and Science.
Don Beasley, chair of Clemson’s mechanical engineering department, said the Dale Earnhardt Foundation partnership offers students a rare entrée into the motorsports industry.
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation displays its commitment to excellence year after year,” he said. “We are grateful for their support of our students who have a passion for this field. Michelle is very deserving with her leadership on the Clemson Formula SAE team, her outstanding grades and her winning attitude.”
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Teresa Earnhardt and Clemson University President James F. Barker signed a memorandum of understanding in 2007 to create a formal research and higher education partnership.