Recipients of 2019-2020 Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship announced

Nine awarded scholarships for post-secondary education

The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation (ATSS Foundation) has awarded nine students with the 2019-2020 Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship offers educational opportunity to dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone crashes, by providing recipients with financial assistance for post-high school education.

Scholarships are valued up to $10,000. Applicants with a strong commitment to volunteerism may apply to receive an additional $1,000 Chuck Bailey scholarship.

The ATSS Foundation is a charitable organization that provides support to the loved ones of those impacted by work zone crashes through several programs, like the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship. The Foundation also honors those killed in work zone incidents with the National Work Zone Memorial.

“The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship program offers a brighter road ahead for those whose lives have been impacted by the tragedy of a work zone incident. The ultimate goal is to achieve our objective of Toward Zero Deaths on our nation’s roadways, but until that objective is achieved, The Foundation serves a vital role of support and comfort,” said ATSS Foundation President David Krahulec of Horizon Signal Technologies.

The following are the 2019-2020 scholarship recipients:

Tessa Beard
Highland, Illinois

Beard is studying Psychology at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Beard was eleven-years-old when her father, Dennis, was struck and killed by a speeding motorist while setting up a lane closure on Interstate 64 near Fairview Heights, IL. Beard will also receive an additional scholarship of $1,000 for her volunteer work.

Aaron Baker
LeCenter, Minnesota

Baker will study Health Sciences at Winona State University this fall. Baker was eight-years-old when his father, Jack, was struck and killed by a train during a moving work zone operation.

Cody Garner
Batesville, Arkansas

Garner is studying Pre-Law and majoring in both International/Global Studies and Political Science while minoring in Legal Studies and Agricultural Business at the University of Arkansas. Garner was fifteen-years-old when his father, John, was killed when the road surface compactor he was operating flipped over on a steep incline and rolled over him. Recently, Garner was awarded an internship with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) at his state office for the summer.

Cameron Hutt
Cleveland, Tennessee

Hutt is studying Communications at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Hutt was six-years-old when her father, Christopher, was installing a speed limit sign when two cars crashed in the work zone and subsequently struck and killed him. Hutt will also receive an additional scholarship of $1,000 for her volunteer work.

Mariela Lara
Ojai, California

Lara will study Environmental Biology at Cal Poly Pomona this fall. Lara was fourteen-years-old when her father, Adan, was clearing a road in preparation for storm “El Nino” when he was struck and killed by a motorist.

Brionna Lizotte
Montreal, Missouri

Lizotte is studying Psychology and Justice Systems at Truman State University. Lizotte was three-years-old when her father, Gerald, was transporting materials from a worksite for his job with the Missouri Department of Transportation when he was struck by a vehicle, resulting in his death.

Andrea Pair
Spiro, Oklahoma

Pair is a Pharmacy grad student at Harding College of Pharmacy. Pair's father, Shannon, was removing pavement marking from a highway when a vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and struck and killed him. Pair was two-years-old when her father died at the age of 31.

Jacob Schwarz
Monee, Illinois

Schwarz is studying animation with a concentration in computers at Columbia College Chicago. His father, David, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run semitrailer driver in September 2017 while he was removing debris off the Tri-State Tollway in Alsip.

Marcie Walker
Dry Ridge, Kentucky

Walker is studying music education at Morehead State University. Walker was fifteen-years-old when her father, Daniel, was securing a concrete divider when a dump truck crashed into a semitrailer that subsequently struck and killed him.

To learn more about the scholarship and ATSS Foundation, visit Foundation.atssa.com.