First scholarship recipient receives diploma

As the first recipient of the Universal Technical Institute Foundation Brienne Davis Scholarship, Kenna Primm is blazing new trails for females in the motorsports industry -- in and out of the classroom.

"I have big goals and I'm determined to make them happen," said Primm.

Primm received her diploma from NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, N.C., graduating with top honors and a perfect 4.0 GPA.

While taking two six-hour classes every week day, Primm managed to make the Director's Honors List and receive multiple awards. Primm also participated in the DRIVEN program as a student mentor and was voted by her peers as president of the NTI Motorsports Club.

In 2009, Primm was named the first recipient of the UTI Foundation Brienne Davis Scholarship and received a $10,000 scholarship towards her tuition to help foster her dreams of a career in automotive and NASCAR.

"We are thrilled to award scholarships to talented students like Kenna and I'm looking forward to seeing her career in the NASCAR industry flourish," said Veronica Meury, vice president and executive director of the UTI Foundation.

Last year, Primm moved 950 miles from her home in Greenwood, Ark. to study automotive and a NASCAR-specific technology program at NTI -- the only school of its kind that combines automotive training and a NASCAR-approved technologies curriculum into one program.

For seven consecutive years, 90 percent of NTI graduates have found employment in either the automotive or motorsports industries.

"It is an honor to have graduated from NASCAR Technical Institute thanks to the Brienne Davis Scholarship," said Primm. "NASCAR Tech has given me the confidence and automotive education I need to succeed in the motorsports industry."

Named after Brienne Davis, a UTI alumnus who went on to become a Cup Series Official before tragically losing her life in a 2008 traffic accident, the annual scholarship fund provides an opportunity for aspiring female students to attend any one of nine UTI campuses across the U.S.

Primm recently accepted a position in the marketing department at Roush Yates Engines and will begin working there in February.