Ten children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job will receive college financial assistance from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation’s (ARTBA-TDF) “Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship” fund.
The scholarship program was established in 1999 with a gift from two Roanoke, Virginia, highway contractors and their companies—Stan Lanford (1999 ARTBA chairman) of Lanford Brothers, and Jack Lanford (1991 ARTBA chairman), with Adams Construction Company. About 100 highway workers are killed on the job every year in roadway construction and maintenance accidents, and thousands more are seriously injured.
Over the past 15 years, more than 100 children of these workers from across the county have received Lanford Family scholarships to pursue college and technical training. The 2015 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 civil engineering major, attends the University of Delaware.
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 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 will start a registered nursing program at Indiana State University in the fall.
Carl Moser, Middletown, Md.
Carl’s dad, Richard Moser, was killed in 2007 while working for the Maryland State Highway Administration on U.S. 340 in Frederick. In September, Carl will attend Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts and will study electrical and computer engineering.
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 junior, she is a marketing major at Bentley University near Boston.
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, a rising senior, is studying elementary education at Delaware State University in Dover.
Standra Jones, Jr., Gaston, S.C.
Standra’s father, Standra Jones, worked for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. In 2007, he was struck and killed while taking down work zone traffic controls on I-26 in Lexington County. Standra will major in architecture at Clemson University.
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 University of Tennessee this fall and plans to major in chemistry.
Emily Jones, Billings, Mont.
Emily’s father, Richard Jones, an employee of Direct Traffic Control, was killed in a car accident in 2013. Emily, a freshman, is currently attending Montana State University majoring in criminal justice.
The ARTBA-TDF is interested in receiving contact leads on students who could benefit from the scholarship program. Please share them with ARTBA program manager Kashae Williams at [email protected].
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