STARKVILLE – Several Mississippi State University students are among the 15 recipients of the 2025-2026 Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association scholarships, awarded to students pursuing careers in the state’s automotive industry.
Since its founding in 2006, MAMA has awarded $471,000 in scholarships to 249 students across Mississippi community colleges and universities. This year, students from a range of majors – from engineering to industrial technology – were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership and commitment to advancing the state’s automotive workforce.
At Mississippi State, the recipients include seniors I’Jerius Brown, Joshua Jones, Vanessa Morales, Rahul Sah, and Cooper Shanks.
I’Jerius Brown, an electrical engineering major with a minor in industrial engineering, has been named a 2025–2026 Toyota Scholar. Brown has led projects including a manual wheelchair conversion kit, camera calibration for autonomous vehicles, and LiDAR sensor analysis. “IJ is a very intelligent student with an electric personality; he showed strong commitment to his professional development,” said his manager at Toyota MS. Brown added, “I hope to use my skills to design and improve automotive systems that enhance safety, efficiency, and accessibility.”
Joshua Jones, a mechanical engineering senior with a minor in mathematics, has contributed to the MSU EcoCar Team and Formula SAE Team while completing an internship with the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension. “He consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, technical skill, and a genuine passion for engineering,” said one of his mentors.
Vanessa Morales, an industrial and systems engineering senior, has worked in labs and co-ops focusing on mechanical and manufacturing technologies. Her instructor said, “Vanessa plays a vital role as the only undergraduate industrial engineer in the lab, demonstrating exceptional dedication to technical excellence.”
Rahul Sah, an industrial engineering senior with minors in data science, mathematics, and global engineering leadership, shared, “I envision a career where I work directly in manufacturing analytics or operations research, using data to make Mississippi’s automotive industry even stronger.”
Cooper Shanks, a mechanical engineering senior with a minor in mathematics, has completed co-ops with Mercedes-Benz and leads the Space Cowboys High Powered Rocketry Team. One of his mentors said, “Cooper approaches every task with integrity, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude. He is highly respected by his peers and consistently demonstrates resilience.”
MAMA Scholarship Chairwoman Judy Johnson praised this year’s recipients: “We congratulate these students and look forward to seeing the impact they’ll make in the years to come.”
By supporting students like those at Mississippi State University, MAMA continues to invest in the next generation of skilled professionals, ensuring Mississippi’s automotive industry remains innovative and competitive.
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