ARTBA Foundation Accepting Scholarship Applications

Sept. 28, 2010

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is accepting applications for the 2009 "Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship." The program provides financial assistance to help the children of highway construction workers killed or permanently disabled on the job pursue post-high school education.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is accepting applications for the 2009 "Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship." The program provides financial assistance to help the children of highway construction workers killed or permanently disabled on the job pursue post-high school education.

The scholarship fund was created in 1999 through a generous $100,000 gift from the families of past ARTBA Chairmen Jack and Stan Lanford of Roanoke, VA. The scholarships can provide up to $3,000 per student and are supported by contributions from highway construction industry executives, firms and labor groups nationwide. The eligibility requirements are as follows:

  • Applicants must be the sons, daughters or legally adopted children of highway workers who have died or become permanently disabled in roadway construction zone accidents.
  • An applicant's parent must have been employed by a transportation construction firm or a transportation public agency at the time of his or her death or disabling injury.
  • The scholarship award must be used to attend a post-secondary institution of learning that requires a high school diploma or Graduate Equivalent Degree (GED).

There are several criteria considered for selection of scholarship recipients. The criteria are as follows:

  • Past academic performance record — high school grades for new college entrants or cumulative college grade point average and academic performance for applicants already attending an institution of higher learning
  • A typewritten statement of no more than 200 words explaining his or her reasons for wanting to continue their education
  • Demonstrated need for financial assistance to attend school
  • Letters of recommendation — in addition to those required from two teachers — that are offered in support of the applicant's nomination

Applications must be postmarked by February 27. Contact ARTBA's Rhonda Britton at 202-289-4434 for an application or visit www.artbatdf.org. Recipients will be announced on or before June 1.

Over the past six years, more than 60 students have been selected as scholarship recipients. The association created the TDF in 1985 to support "research, education and public awareness activities."