University of Northwestern Ohio and American Rally Association Extend Official Educational Partnership
- ARA Staff
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
For IMMEDIATE Release From: Stephanie Malloy
UNOH VP, Public Relations & Marketing
Phone: 419-998-8854
Date: April 7, 2026
The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH)—a worldwide leader in High Performance Motorsports Technology education—and the American Rally Association (ARA)—the largest rally organization in the United States and promoter of the country’s only national championship for the sport of stage rally—today announce the renewal of their alliance.
Launched in 2025, the partnership saw UNOH become an Official Educational Partner of the ARA, offering UNOH students access to engage in immersive, real-world work experiences in one of the fastest-growing motorsports in the country.
“Our students are passionate about motorsports, and our partnership with ARA has opened up experiences and career pathways for them within a rapidly growing and globally popular branch of racing,” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, UNOH President. “Stage rally is on the rise in America, and the opportunities for our students are both exciting and limited only by their own drive and dedication.”
Year two of the UNOH/ARA tie-up is expected to move beyond “weekend warrior” work experiences for students to include formal internships and additional programming as the ARA presses forward with the launch of its nationwide volunteer organization and recruitment and training platform. Students will collaborate with ARA officials, teams, and drivers at the highest levels of global rally, gaining hands-on experience in technical operations, logistics, business management, and IT systems used in the sport.
“The UNOH students chose rally and chose the ARA; it was their interest and initiative that inspired this partnership,” said ARA Series Manager, Preston Osborn. “The continuation of our relationship allows us to build a stronger, more skilled rally workforce, supporting our event organizers and fostering excellence in event execution. At the same time, working with UNOH gives students the tools to turn their passion into a profession. It’s a partnership that fully aligns with the ARA mission to grow the sport of stage rally in America.”
In 2024, UNOH formally launched the UNOH Rally Club after students expressed a desire to connect more deeply with the rally racing community. Throughout the 2024 ARA season, club members volunteered as crew members for a variety of teams, and their ranks have grown steadily since then, bringing more students into ARA service parks to work with—and learn from—rally teams.
With rally events taking place in diverse and challenging environments across the country, UNOH students will continue to have the opportunity to travel, train, and contribute at both grassroots and professional levels.
“This is more than just motorsports—it’s an educational experience that touches engineering, event production, digital media, marketing, business management, and more,” said Osborn. “UNOH is the perfect partner to help us shape the future of American Rally.”
For more information about the partnership and how students can get involved, visit www.unoh.edu or www.americanrallyassociation.org.
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About ARA: The American Rally Association (ARA) is the largest rally organization in the United States and promotes the country’s only cohesive, nationwide competition for the sport of stage rally: The ARA National Championship.
American Rally is sanctioned by USAC and promoted by Rally Forward LLC, which was founded in 2024 by rally legend Lance Smith and is dedicated to advancing the sport of stage rally in America. Smith is the founder and CEO of Vermont SportsCar.
American Rally provides a direct link to pure automotive adventure: a top-speed race against the clock on real roads specifically chosen to challenge production-based cars and world-class drivers on diverse surfaces that include snow, sand, gravel, dirt and tarmac. To learn more about the ARA and its partners, go to www.AmericanRallyAssociation.org.
About UNOH: Founded in 1920, the University of Northwestern Ohio is an entrepreneurial, not-for-profit, university located in Lima, Ohio. The university is comprised of five colleges: the College of Applied Technologies, the College of Business, the College of Health Professions, the College of Occupational Professions, and the Graduate College. The University is recognized worldwide as a leader in Automotive, Diesel, and High Performance Motorsports Technology education. UNOH also offers world-class degree programs in Business, Health, Marketing, Information Technology, Robotics, and many other fields of study. UNOH has educated students from all 50 states and 83 countries, and currently has nearly 3,000 students enrolled from 49 states and 38 countries. The University of Northwestern Ohio also offers a variety of athletics, including men's and women's basketball, golf, bowling, soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s baseball, women’s softball, and six co-ed motorsports teams. For more information, visit www.unoh.edu