Alumni Spotlight
For over 25 years, UYRS has used the magic of motorsports to launch young people into extraordinary careers. The checkered flag is just the beginning — meet a few of the students who took the wheel and never looked back.
From The Track To NASCAR
Jason Simmons
Senior Director, Competition & Operations — NASCAR International
UYRS Student Since 1998
As a kid in mid-90s Philadelphia, Jason dreamed of racing but saw no pathway into NASCAR — until a local newspaper ad for the Urban Youth Racing School changed everything in 1998. UYRS shaped his childhood and steered his education, putting him in front of industry leaders like Mike Helton and Ed Bennett, and racing legends like Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon. He earned high-school internships with Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing, raced the UYRS stock car fleet at storied short tracks like South Boston, Hickory, and Myrtle Beach, and went on to compete in nearly a hundred Legend Car races. Today he is Senior Director of Competition & Operations for NASCAR International, overseeing race procedures, rules, and driver-development pathways across four international series — Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe.
I credit Anthony, Michelle, and the Urban Youth Racing School for being my springboard into the motorsports world. I, and many others, are proof that these programs work.
Where Our Alumni Are Now
One program. Countless directions. UYRS graduates are making their mark across motorsports, engineering, media, film, and beyond.
Danny Colon
Executive, NBC
NASCAR Diversity Internship alum
Danny got his start through a NASCAR diversity internship, turning early exposure at UYRS into a foothold in the industry. He climbed the ranks on the media side of the business and today is an executive at NBC — proof that the confidence and connections built at UYRS can open doors far beyond the track.
Ernie Ross
Engineer, NAVSEA
Tuskegee University — Full-Ride Scholarship
Ernie came up through the UYRS Engine Program Powered by NAVSEA, where hands-on engineering sparked a lifelong path. That work earned him a full-ride scholarship to Tuskegee University, where he completed his engineering degree before going on to serve as an engineer for NAVSEA — the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command.
Kiah Williams
Co-Founder, SIRUM
Forbes 30 Under 30 · Clinton Fellow · TED Speaker
Kiah has built a remarkable career in social impact. The critical-thinking and problem-solving skills she sharpened at UYRS earned her a Clinton Fellowship and helped launch SIRUM, the nonprofit she co-founded to redistribute surplus medicine to families who need it. Her work has earned a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and a place on the TED stage — a testament to how far a UYRS foundation can reach.
Jermel Langley
Engineman First Class (EN1), U.S. Navy
Norfolk Naval Shipyard — Senior Sailor of the Year
A Philadelphia native, Jermel came up through the UYRS Engine Program Powered by NAVSEA, carrying that discipline and technical drive into a career of service with the United States Navy. A highly decorated Surface Warfare (SW) and Aviation Warfare (AW) qualified technician, he holds the rank of Engineman First Class (EN1), Petty Officer First Class, and was named Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Senior Sailor of the Year — going on to compete as a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Sailor of the Year finalist.
Elijah K. Lewis
Engineer, NAVSEA · Author & Speaker
Tuskegee University — Full-Ride Scholarship
Elijah came up through the UYRS Engine Program Powered by NAVSEA, which earned him a full-ride scholarship to Tuskegee University, where he completed his engineering degree before going on to serve as an engineer for NAVSEA. Beyond his engineering career, he is a published author and speaker — his book, “Your Jewels Are In Your Journey: Life Lessons to Lead You to Your Optimal Self,” shares the lessons that shaped his path from Philadelphia to the stage.
Are You A UYRS Alum?
We’d love to celebrate your journey. Tell us where the road has taken you and you could be featured in a future Alumni Spotlight.
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