Tiffany Daniels, a top high-school student, athlete and race car driver from Smithfield, Va., has received the Alan Kulwicki Memorial Scholarship from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Rich Habegger, vice president of operations for Sports Marketing Enterprises at R.J. Reynolds, presented Daniels with the 2003 scholarship on May 25 at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway prior to Coca-Cola 600. Daniels, the daughter of Charlie and Wanda Daniels, graduated on May 24 from Hampton Roads Academy [VA]. During her high school career, she was a National Merit Scholar, winner of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Math and Science award, a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta math honor society and a cum laude graduate. As a high school athlete Daniels played varsity field hockey and was captain of the varsity softball team. She has been involved in numerous community activities as a member of the Key Club and Interact Club. The four-year Kulwicki Scholarship is the highest honor within UNC Charlotte’s Motorsports Engineering program. The scholarship is given in memory of late NASCAR Winston Cup points champion Alan Kulwicki, who lost his life in a plane crash in 1993. Kulwicki was an engineer and a strong supporter of engineering and science education. The Lee College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte presents the scholarship to a high school senior who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and has an affiliation with auto racing. UNC Charlotte’s Kulwicki scholars have established a strong tradition of academic and auto racing excellence. Many of the winners are ardent racecar drivers, as well as top engineers. Daniels, who plans to major in motorsports engineering at UNC Charlotte, has been an avid auto racing fan, team member and driver for years. As a Legends driver, Daniels has posted one win in a Young Lions race at Langley Speedway in Hampton, Va. In 2002, she finished sixth in the Virginia State Young Lions points, and 12th in Virginia State Semi-Pro points. This year, she is currently second in the Virginia State Semi-Pro points, and has had several top 10 finishes. She also races regularly in the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Summer Shootout and Winter Heat series. As the premier motorsports engineering program in the country, UNC Charlotte attracts top students from throughout the United States. The Lee College of Engineering has strong ties with many of the race teams in the Charlotte area, and UNC Charlotte engineering graduates can be found on numerous NASCAR teams. UNC Charlotte motorsports engineering students also have built a reputation for racing success in competition against other southeastern universities in the Inter-Collegiate Auto Racing Association. Racing 5/8th scale Legends cars, the UNC Charlotte 49ers have captured the collegiate National Championship the past six years.(NinerOnline.com)(5-31-2003)
