JANS - Since 2006, the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) has supported 243 students enrolled in Mississippi community colleges and universities with a total of $437,500 awarded. MAMA serves its members by promoting growth, development, and improvement in the automotive industry in Mississippi, as well as serving as a forum for interaction among automotive manufacturing companies in the state.

Among this year's 14 recipients is Jordon Jasper, a senior computer science major at Mississippi State University with a 3.82 GPA. Jasper serves as a Resident Advisor at MSU. His strong problem-solving, decision-making, and priority management skills are excellent tools to help him with his job as a researcher with the MSU Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems contributing to pioneering efforts in autonomous mobility for off-road, industrial, and heavy-duty vehicles.

One of his MSU instructors wrote, "His academic pursuits extended beyond the classroom through his involvement in the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, where he applied theoretical knowledge to tangible engineering challenges. Jordon's role in the lab required teamwork and communication skills, which he exercised with professionalism and clarity. He is a valuable member of our research team."

This past summer, Jasper participated in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program where he worked on implementing Graphing Neural Networks within Robotic Systems that would allow the robot to think on its own. REUs are competitive research programs in the U.S. for undergraduates studying science, engineering, or mathematics.