CJ Pony Parts Scholarship Winners

Every year, CJ Pony Parts offers two $500 scholarships to students who will be attending college next semester. We host a video contest each semester and select the best video as the winner.

Students are asked to create a short video on one of these topics:

• What is one memory you have of a Mustang that left an impression?
• How do Mustangs relate to your current or intended field of study?
• If you could redesign one Mustang generation, what would you change and why?

The videos students create are always amazing. This makes it very difficult to pick a winner, but there is always one that stands out from the rest! Check out past winners below:

Spring 2026 Co-Winner: Mack Rodgers

Mack Rodgers grew up surrounded by the kind of automotive passion that gets passed down through generations. At the center of it all is his mother's 1966 Mustang coupe, a car she bought at 16 years old after spending two years scooping ice cream to save for it. Over the years, that Mustang became part of countless family memories, from weekend drives to car shows across the country.

That lifelong exposure to classic cars helped Mack develop a strong appreciation for mechanics and hands-on work. His grandfather, an author of automotive technician textbooks and service manuals, introduced him to wrenching at a young age. Learning to drive stick in a 1965 Dodge Dart GT and helping work on family vehicles sparked his interest in both automotive craftsmanship and car photography.

Through those experiences, Mack discovered how much he enjoys building, creating, and solving problems through hands-on learning. As he prepares to attend Dartmouth University, he hopes to continue pursuing that passion by joining the school's Formula SAE team.

Congratulations to Mack on earning the Spring 2026 CJ Pony Parts Scholarship! His appreciation for family, craftsmanship, and Mustang culture makes him a fantastic addition to this year's group of winners.

Spring 2026 Co-Winner: Tuesday Barnes

Tuesday Barnes' scholarship submission stood out for its heartfelt message about community, mentorship, and creating meaningful change. Guided by the African principle of ubuntu, which means “I am because we are,” Tuesday shared how her experiences have shaped her passion for uplifting others and giving back to the communities that helped her succeed.

As a student at Morgan State University, Tuesday has already made a powerful impact through mentorship and community outreach. She helped two of her mentees successfully apply to four-year colleges, both earning acceptance into Morgan State. She also created a photography-based community project for elementary school students in East Baltimore, encouraging them to capture and reshape the narrative of their neighborhoods through creative expression.

Tuesday's passion for service extends beyond her local community as well. In summer 2025, she was selected by the U.S. Department of State as a Critical Language Scholarship recipient and traveled to Tanzania to study Swahili. While there, she organized a creative arts initiative that brought together poets, activists, and community members to explore identity and cultural storytelling.

Congratulations to Tuesday on earning the Spring 2026 CJ Pony Parts Scholarship! Her dedication to leadership, creativity, and community impact truly reflects the spirit of this scholarship program.

Fall 2025 Winner: Bailey Andrews

Bailey's submission stood out immediately thanks to her deep-rooted passion for Mustangs of every kind. She owns seven of them, with most serving as parts cars, along with a real Mustang horse. Her goal is to become a first-generation mechanic, and she's already well on her way by working hands-on with every project she takes on.

From S197s and New Edges to her 1997 Cobra, Bailey has owned and worked on an impressive range of Mustangs. She even got her Cobra running by splicing into the wiring harness. It may not have been the perfect approach, but it shows her determination to figure things out no matter what. She's also an active drifter who regularly participates in Las Vegas area drift events, where her love for the 4.6L 3-valve and 4-valve V8s really shines through.

Congratulations to Bailey on earning the 2025 Fall CJ Pony Parts Scholarship! Her drive, creativity, and Mustang spirit perfectly represent what this scholarship is all about.

Spring 2025 Winner: Josh Hunter

Josh's impressive '67 Mustang build "Gold Leader" immediately caught our eye when watching his submission. Despite having no prior experience working on cars, Josh dove headfirst into the project, teaching himself to weld, fabricate, and bring his vision to life. Inspired by rally racing and the TV show Roadkill, he transformed the neglected classic into a one-of-a-kind rally car.

This incredible project helped Josh realize what he wanted to do and reignited his academic passion. So, he decided to go back to school for mechanical engineering, and he's loving every second of it.

Congratulations to Josh on his amazing achievement! We love Gold Leader and we can't wait to see what you do with it next!

Fall 2024 Winner: Tristan Thai

Tristan's unique and captivating performance of a poem he wrote about the Mustang set him apart from the other contestants. From the first line, it was evident that he spent the time necessary to craft an incredible submission that focused on the history of the Mustang and the passion of its owners while presenting it in a way none of us could ever have imagined.

Congratulations to Tristan for this incredible video! Check out the video below to listen to his awesome poem for yourself.

Spring 2024 Winner: Reina Serrano-Rivera

The Mustang community is about more than just cars, it’s about personal connection and dedication. Reina’s story is a perfect example of both of these traits. She grew up attending car shows with her dad, but despite his love for Mustangs, the dream of owning his favorite car, a 1972 Mach 1 Mustang, seemed like it was out of reach financially.

However, Reina and her siblings were determined to make his dream a reality. They found an old ‘72 Mach 1 online and got to work restoring it from top to bottom. It took over a year of dedicated restoration, but after countless hours of electrical fixes, bodywork, and painting, Reina and her family were able to surprise her dad on Father’s Day and allow him to make owning his dream car a reality.

Congratulations to Reina on a job well done! We are so happy for your dad and we are truly inspired by your dedication and commitment to family.

Fall 2023 Winner: Alexandra Everhart

Congratulations to Alexandra Everhart, our Fall 2023 Scholarship recipient! Alexandra's deep connection with Mustangs, nurtured from childhood, has significantly shaped her life. From her early rides in her mother's 1998 Mustang Cobra to the inspiring stories she uncovered at car shows, her video highlights the emotional bond between owners and their cars. Alexandra's desire to help others rediscover their passions makes her a deserving recipient of this scholarship.

Spring 2023 Winner: Cooper O'Hair

This round of scholarship submissions may have been the most competitive we have ever received. Even through fierce competition, Cooper's story stuck out by showing genuine passion for both Mustang history and his personal goals as an artist.

Cooper plans on heading to Detroit next fall to take part in a transportation design program, and he was kind enough to share with us some of his personal design mockups for a fresh take on the new S650 Mustang generation. Cooper's designs were thoughtful, professional, and oozing with a creative passion for automotive design. I think I speak for all of us when I say we can't wait to see a future Mustang designed by Cooper. Check out the submission below to see his awesome Mustang designs for yourself.

Fall 2022 Winner: Luke Penner

Luke's story really struck a chord with us. We agree that the best thing about being a Mustang owner isn't necessarily the car itself, but the memories we make with them. Whether it's taking a road trip or working on a project with a loved one, every Mustang experience is special. We're glad you shared your story with us, and we hope you continue to make memories with Mustangs for years to come.

Spring 2022 Winner: Tyler Archer

It's always hard to select a scholarship winner, and this semester was no different. Ultimately, Tyler's story reminded us of exactly why we're in business, and his commitment to realizing his dream inspired us all.

Spring 2021 Winner: Taylor Thompson

There were a lot of great submissions again! We thought Taylor did an incredible job. Take a look at her video below.

Fall 2020 Winner: Taylor Ray

Another semester and more incredible videos. It's getting harder and harder to pick just one but this semester the award goes to Taylor Ray!

Unfortunately, Taylor's video is now private.

Spring 2020 Winner: Kenzie Casper

There were some incredible submissions this semester and it was difficult to pick just one. But one did rise to the top and that was Kenzie's telling of her first memory of a Mustang. Give a watch below!

Fall 2019 Winner: Carson Kim

For our round of Fall 2019 submissions, the field was evenly-matched as it is every semester. It's amazing what today's students are capable of when it comes to creativity in answering our scholarship prompts. That's where Carson knocked it out of the park with his extremely creative tune on autonomous vehicles!

Unfortunately, Carson's video is now private.

Spring 2019 Winner: Mika Green

Spring 2019 may have been our most talented pool ever when it came to the scholarship submissions from all of these talented students! The scholarship committee certainly had a tough time - even a heated debate or two - on who should take the gold. But, the decision was clear once we hit Mika's submission! We really enjoyed listening to her story and we hope you do too!

Fall 2018 Winner: Hallie Erfourth

Fall 2018 led to be a tough decision for the scholarship committee here at CJ's. We received a ton of excellent submissions that really showed a lot of entrants' creative sides! With that said, we had to choose Hallie's submission due to the time, effort and creativity behind her entry. A big thanks to all those who submitted - we look forward to what Spring 2019 brings!

Spring 2018 Winner: Sam Maiocco

For Spring 2018, we had the most submissions we've ever received! That made our job even more difficult when it came to picking a winner. However, Sam's submission rose above the rest after seeing what he did with his 1973 Mustang at such a young age! It's great to see kids like Sam take an interest in cars and Mustangs specifically. Thanks for the awesome submission and congratulations!

Unfortunately, Sam's video is now private.

Fall 2017 Winner: Jermaine Johnson II

This fall, we had a ton of great submissions for the CJ Pony Parts scholarship video content which led to a very difficult time of narrowing all of the submissions down to one. However, one video in particular shined above the rest! Meet Jermaine who is from Detroit, Michigan and currently studying abroad in South Africa. Mr. Johnson put together a creative poem talking about his plans over the next 30 years.

Unfortunately, Jermaine's video is now private.

Spring 2017 Winner: Nathan Kalana

As every semester goes by, it seems we get more and more great video submissions flooding in for the CJ's Video Scholarship Contest. We chose Nathan's submission after seeing the passion he has behind Mustangs and cars overall. The kind of will and drive that Nathan shows in his 1965 Mustang build paired with his upcoming education at UTI will take him far doing something that he loves - building cars. Hats off to Nathan!

Unfortunately, Nathan's video is now private.

Spring 2017 Featured Submissions: Andrew J. & Mike S.

Although we chose Nathan's video submission for the Spring 2017 round of entries, we couldn't let Andrew and Mike's submissions go unnoticed. Check out these comical video submissions!

A big thanks to everyone who sent in submissions for the Spring 2017. We thoroughly enjoyed viewing each and every one of them! For those who didn't win this time around, feel free to send in another submission for Fall 2017!

Fall 2016 Winner: Jennifer Bolaski

For the Fall 2016 semester, we had more entries than ever before for the CJ Pony Parts Video Scholarship Contest. However, Jennifer Bolaski's video stood out from the rest. Between her Mustangs Blue Ford and Blue Ford II and passion for her education in becoming a School Counselor, it really was a no-brainer! You can check out her video below. Congrats, Jennifer!

As for the rest of the submissions for Fall 2016, it was an incredibly tough decision. Thank you to all those who submitted and if you didn't win this semester, there will always be another shot next semester! Good luck and we look forward to seeing your submissions!

Spring 2016 Winner: Mustang Music by Shelbie Rassler

Shelbie Rassler made an entire piece of music using ONLY sounds from a Mustang. She did this to show how a Mustang relates to her field of study, which is music. Here's what she said about her video:

“As a musician, I thought it would be really interesting and exciting to create an entire piece of music solely out of sounds I recorded from a Mustang. These included hitting the tires for a bass drum, rattling the keys for a snare drum, the blinker as a hit hat, the beeping seatbelt warning as the melody, the low rumble of the engine as the main bass line, and other sound effects such as closing the car door and trunk, the moving of the windshield wipers, and turning over the engine. I then used the music editing software Logic Pro X to trim the sounds and organize them, resulting in the piece you are about to hear!”

What a creative and cool idea! Not to mention, it turned out to be a pretty cool song from a great-looking car. Congrats to Shelbie — no relation to Shelby Mustang designer Carroll Shelby, I'm sure — for winning the CJ Pony Parts scholarship from this amazing video!

Fall 2015 Winner: Matthew Pryor

We had a lot of great submissions for the Fall 2015 semester, but there was no doubt that the work and creativity shining from Matthew's video made it rise to the top of the stack. Matthew's video is on "What It Means To Be An American." With a whimsical approach to this contest, Matthew nailed it with his video - check it out!

How To Apply

Are you a college student or do you know one who's looking for a scholarship? You can apply for the CJ Pony Parts Video Contest Scholarship here! The deadlines are April 15 and October 15 every year, so make sure you get your video ready for the next one. You might just be the next winner.