The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is now accepting applications for the 2007 "Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship." The unique 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 have a value up to $2,000 and are supported by contributions from highway construction industry executives, firms and labor groups nationwide.
Eligibility requirements
• 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; and
• The scholarship award must be used to attend a post-secondary institution of learning that requires a high school diploma or Graduate Equivalent Degree.
Selection criteria
There are several criteria considered for selection of scholarship recipients:
• 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 minimum cumulative academic performance of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale is required.
• 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; and
• Letters of recommendation--in addition to those required by two teachers--that are offered in support of the applicant's nomination.
Applications must be postmarked by March 20, 2007. Contact ARTBA's Rhonda Britton at 202/289-4434 for an application or visit www.artbatdf.org. Winners will be announced on or before May 1.
Over the past six years, more than 60 students have been selected as scholarship recipients.
