Winston-Salem State University Sponsors Derby to Promote New Motorsport Management Program, Saturday, Aug. 11

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To raise awareness for its new Motorsport Management program, Winston-Salem State University is sponsoring and university officials and students will attend, a special event incorporated into the regular weekly racing program at Bowman Gray Stadium known as the Winston-Salem Journal Night on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007, at 8 p.m. Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR's longest running weekly racetrack and is currently in its 59th racing season. The flat, quarter-mile asphalt track is known for close racing action and its storied history, which dates back to 1949.

WSSU introduced a curriculum for the nation's first Bachelor of Science degree in Motorsport Management at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) after receiving approval from the University of North Carolina system Board of Governors in May. The undergraduate degree program is housed within the Department of Human Performance and Sport Sciences and is currently accepting new students for the fall semester.

The WSSU Motorsport Management curriculum will include concentrations in two specific areas: Motorsport Operations and Motorsport Marketing and Event Planning, which teaches students the skills, knowledge and technology of managing motorsport racing; with emphasis on facility management, risk management, marketing, sponsorships and endorsements, and legal considerations within the industry.

Dr. Travis Teague, program coordinator of WSSU's Motorsport Management major, said, "WSSU is committed to the development and preparation of well- qualified professionals for career opportunities in a multibillion dollar industry that is seeking to make its workforce more reflective of its increasingly diverse fan base." As Motorsport Management majors, students are exposed to the industry first-hand, as the curriculum requires many experiential learning opportunities, including a semester-long internship in a motorsport setting. These experiences exceed classroom learning; students receive the opportunity to work with major motorsport companies and organizations, applying their knowledge and discovering new talents to create enhanced career placement options within the industry. Corporations and foundations are vital resources in regard to sponsorship and support toward the growth of this new curriculum. The program is actively seeking corporate and individual sponsorship partners.

Winston-Salem State University, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a public university founded in 1892 in Winston-Salem, NC. WSSU is a historically black university that today is a recognized regional institution offering baccalaureate and graduate programs to a diverse student population. U.S. News and World Report has ranked the university among Top Public Comprehensive Colleges in the South -- Bachelor's category -- for the last six years (2002-2007). WSSU currently offers more than 40 baccalaureate and nine master's degree programs to a student population of approximately 6,000.

For more information, call Dr. Teague at (336) 750-3266, or e-mail him at teaguetr@wssu.edu.