Scholarships from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation (ARTBA) will help 13 children of highway workers who were killed or permanently disabled on the job to continue their education.
The ARTBA Development Foundation’s Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship fund has named these recipients of post-high school financial assistance for the 2018-19 school year.
The scholarship program began 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, the organization says.
About 100 highway workers are killed annually in roadway construction and maintenance accidents, and thousands more are seriously injured, according to ARTBA.
In recognition of this heavy toll, and to do its part, over the past 18 years the organization has awarded more than 160 scholarships. They’ve gone to students from 28 states to pursue undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as technical training.
The 2018 winners are:
Caitlyn Rains, Proctor, Arkansas
Caitlyn’s father, James “Bubba” Rains, was killed in 2013 while working in a night construction zone for APAC Tennessee. Caitlyn is studying journalism and law at Arkansas State University, where she will be a sophomore.
Stan Jones, Jr., Gaston, South Carolina
Stan’s father, Standra Jones, Sr., died in 2007 after being struck by a vehicle while working for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Stan studies architecture at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where he will be a senior.
Willie Blevins, Athens, Georgia
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, an animal science major, will be a senior at the University of Georgia.
Amy McNeil Graves and Misty McNeil, Lumberton, Texas
Amy and Misty’s father, Jeffrey McNeil, was killed in 2005 while working for the Texas Department of Transportation. Amy is in registered nursing school at Lamar State College in Port Arthur. Misty will be a sophomore at Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont where she studies radiological technology.
Victoria Markle, Port Charlotte, Florida
Victoria’s father, John Markle, was struck and killed on Florida’s I-75 in March 2016 while working for Ajax Paving Industries. Victoria is majoring in journalism and will be a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
Kristen Jares, West, Texas
Kristen’s father, Gregory Jares, was killed in 2001 while working for the Texas Department of Transportation Special Crews. Kristen, an exercise physiology major, will be a junior at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
Hadley Voudrie, Trussville, Alabama
Hadley’s father, Darin Voudrie, was struck and killed while working for Jefferson County Roads and Transportation in 2015. Hadley will be a freshman at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham and plans to study elementary education.
Carolyn Lillis, Philomath, Oregon
Carolyn’s father, Scott Lillis, was permanently disabled in 2015 while driving in a work zone for his employer, Knife River Corporation. Carolyn will be a freshman at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon and plans to study physical therapy.
Mashawn Blubaugh, Howard, Ohio
Mashawn’s father, Shawn Blubaugh, died in 2010 while working for the Ohio Department of Transportation. Mashawn will be a freshman at Kent State University in Ohio.
Jacob Schwarz, Monee, Illinois
Jacob’s father, David Schwarz, was killed in 2017 while operating equipment for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Jacob studies animation with a concentration in computers at Columbia College in Chicago, where he will be a junior.
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 pursuing her master’s in applied behavior analysis at Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
Andrea Pair, Spiro, Oklahoma
Andrea’s father, Shannon Pair, was struck and killed while working for Time Striping Inc., in 1998. Andrea is pursuing her doctorate in pharmacy at Harding University College of Pharmacy in Searcy, Arkansas.
Help other students benefit
The ARTBA-TDF is interested in receiving contact leads on students who could benefit from the scholarship program. Please share them with ARTBA’s Eileen Houlihan at [email protected] or (202) 683-1019.
You can also donate to the scholarship fund. Established in 1985, the ARTBA Foundation is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt entity designed to “promote research, education and public awareness” about the impacts of transportation investment.
