Goodyear diversity drive offers at-track experience

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- As the exclusive tire supplier of NASCAR's three largest series, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company on Tuesday officially unveiled the Goodyear Racing and Diversity Program. The initiative provides high school students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the many career paths offered through the sport of NASCAR.

The program, offered in six areas including Daytona Beach, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit and Dover, Del., will provide more than 60 interested minority students annually with a graduated program of at-track experiences, internships and ultimately, the opportunity to receive one of six scholarships to help continue their education.

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As part of the announcement, Goodyear introduced its first two race weekend internship recipients, Eboni Washington and Rodrigo "Rod" Bernal. Eboni and Rod, both seniors at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, will work in their fields of interest with established professionals on Feb. 16 leading into the Nationwide Series race and on Feb. 17 leading into the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

"Goodyear is proud to offer deserving high school students a unique opportunity to experience first-hand the wide variety of career opportunities available through the sport of NASCAR," said Kris Kienzl, NASCAR marketing manager at Goodyear. "Thanks to our longstanding, uninterrupted involvement with NASCAR, we are able to provide an inside look at career paths from engineering and design to marketing and promotions, with mentors from all over the sport, whether from NASCAR, individual race teams, tracks or Goodyear."

In its first year, the Goodyear Racing and Diversity program already has provided more than 60 high school students from across the country the chance to experience NASCAR first-hand and receive a behind-the-scenes look at a NASCAR race. Students participating in these events had to maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and be in good standing in their school and local community to become eligible to apply for race-weekend internships.

Once selected, students are paired with one or more 'mentors' in career areas of interest to them for two, six-hour days of work. Those students who complete their race-weekend internships are then eligible to apply for one of six scholarships, including five $2,000 awards and one $30,000 scholarship to be used toward their continuing education.

"NASCAR is proud to partner with Goodyear in creating this new program and looks forward to helping them provide meaningful career experiences for promising high school students across the country," said Marcus Jadotte, managing director of public affairs for NASCAR.

Both Eboni Washington and Rodrigo Bernal attended the Pepsi 400 in Daytona Beach last July with 10 other area students, receiving a behind-the-scenes tour of the pits and Goodyear Racing's tire operations, and watching the race from the stands. All students attending the race weekend were eligible to submit applications for a race-day internship.

"Eboni and Rod were selected on the strength of their school records and extra-curricular activities as well as the recommendations of their teachers," Kienzl said.

During Eboni's four years at Mainland High School she has excelled both in and out of the classroom, sitting in the top 3 percent of her graduating class. In addition to her outstanding academics, Eboni is also an integral member of both the volleyball and tennis teams where she earned multiple accolades, including team captain and best team player. Eboni manages to find time to volunteer in both her school and community by tutoring her peers and as an active member in the LINK Crew, which helps underclassmen adjust to high school life. During her weekend internship, Eboni will experience where her interests in engineering, business and public relations could take her.

Rod's commitment to academic and extracurricular excellence is among his major accomplishments as a student. Rod showcases his leadership abilities as a producer in Mainland High School's Television Production Department.

Deeply involved in the community, Rod is often selected as a speaker by the administration and faculty to represent Mainland High School at local and community events. Rod will spend his internship living the options available in broadcasting, video and film production.