Eleven children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job will receive financial assistance in their pursuit of higher education due to scholarships announced by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF).
The ARTBA-TDF’s "Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program" was established in 1999 with a gift from two Roanoke, Va., highway contractors and their companies — Stan Lanford (1999 ARTBA chairman) of Lanford Brothers, and Jack Lanford (1991 ARTBA chairman), of Adams Construction Company.
On average, about 100 highway workers are killed every year on the job or in roadway construction work zone accidents. The 2014 class includes:
Vybav Hiraesave, Dover, Del.
Vybav’s father, Vasuki Hiraesave, was killed in an accident while working for the Delaware Department of Transportation in March 2006. Vybav, a junior at the University of Delaware, is a chemical engineering major.
Lyndsay Morgan, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Lyndsay’s father, Steven Morgan, was killed in a November 2011 accident while working on Interstate 75 in Florida. She is a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University and majoring in communication studies.
Amy McNeil, Kountze, Texas
Amy’s father, Jeffrey McNeil, was killed in 2005 while working for the Texas Department of Transportation on U.S. 69 in Beaumont. Amy attends Lamar State College and will start a registered nursing program in January 2015.
LaToya Hood, Houston, Texas
LaToya’s father, Paris Hood, was struck by a vehicle and killed in a February 1998 accident while working for the Texas Department of Transportation on I-27. LaToya attends Texas Southern University and is an education major.
Kaitlyn Henry, Dennison, Ohio
Kaitlyn’s dad, Gary Henry, was struck by a construction vehicle and killed in 2013 while working on a state highway construction project on Interstate 270 near Columbus, Ohio. Kaitlyn is currently attending Ohio University and is an intervention specialist major.
Alexis Keefe, Wyalusing, Pa.
Alexis’s dad, Bret Keefe, was killed in a car accident in 2001 while working for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. A sophomore, she is a marketing major at Bentley University near Boston.
Joshua Frank, Sterling, Colo.
Joshua’s father, Thomas Frank, was struck and killed in 1996 while working for the Colorado Department of Transportation on I-76 near Sterling. Joshua is attending Wyotech in Laramie, Wyo., and is majoring in diesel mechanics and chassis fabrication.
Leah Barnes, Bronx, N.Y.
Leah’s dad, Donald Barnes, worked for the New York State Thruway Authority and was permanently disabled in 1995 when he was struck by a vehicle. Leah is a junior studying elementary education at Delaware State University in Dover.
Willie Blevins, Danielsville, Ga.
Willie’s mother, Kathy Blevins, worked for the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. She had just finished painting turn-lane lines when her vehicle was struck and she was killed in 2004. Willie will be attending Georgia Southern University in Statesboro this fall and plans to major in biology.
Emily Jones, Billings, Mont.
Emily’s father, Richard Jones, an employee of Direct Traffic Control, was killed in a car accident in 2013. Emily will attend Montana State University in the fall and major in criminal justice.
Kelsey Williams, Chehalis, Wash.
Kelsey’s dad, Samuel Williams, Jr., was killed in 2000 while working as a flagger for the Washington State Department of Transportation. Kelsey will attend Western Oregon University in Monmouth and major in fire service administration.
The ARTBA-TDF is interested in receiving contact leads on students who could benefit from the scholarship program. Please share them with ARTBA Scholarship & Awards Manager Kashae Williams at [email protected].
For more information, visit www.artba.org.
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