TUPELO – Multiple Mississippi State University students and one East Mississippi Community College student are among the 11 recipients of the 2026-2027 Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association scholarships, awarded to students pursuing careers in the state’s automotive industry.

Since the program began in 2006, MAMA has awarded more than $495,000 in scholarships to Mississippi students, supporting education and training that can lead to careers in automotive manufacturing and related fields.

“What stands out about this year’s scholarship recipients is the breadth of talent and interests they bring to the future of automotive manufacturing,” said Skip Scaggs, President of MAMA, in a press release. “These students are preparing themselves in areas such as engineering, automation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and research and product development.”

From MSU, recipients include computer engineering student Davis Adams and mechanical engineering students Garrett Campbell and Spandan Niroula. Tylan Wicks, an industrial maintenance student at EMCC, was also awarded a scholarship.

Adams, a 2026-2027 Nissan Scholar, has experience in embedded systems, hardware design, microcontrollers, PCB layout and AI integration.
He has also worked in customer software development and hardware design through multiple co-op rotations with Adtran. With a particular interest in automotive electronic control unit design, Adams hopes to begin his career as an embedded systems or firmware engineer in the automotive industry.

Campbell, a member of the MSU Shackouls Honors College, has earned multiple academic scholarships and is a Certified SolidWorks Associate with training in CNC machining, dimensioning and tolerancing, and OSHA safety. He hopes to pursue a career in automotive materials research and development with the goal of developing vehicles that are safer, more efficient and dependable.

Niroula, also a 2026-2027 Nissan Scholar and a recipient of the BRIDGES Research Award, gained experience as a co-op engineer with Avail Bus Systems/nVent, where he applied computational fluid dynamics, thermal analysis, quality testing, and engineering design to major projects.
Niroula has an interest in robotics, automation and AI within automotive manufacturing, with a long-term goal of advancing engineering management and continuous improvement.

Wicks’ technical background includes mechanical skills, machine operation, customer service, and experience as a detailer/mechanic. With an interest in vehicle assembly and quality control, his long-term goal is to eventually become a quality production supervisor. He intends to continue his education at MSU, where he plans to major in electrical engineering.