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ATSS Foundation awards Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships to 14 students
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Dec. 14, 2022 –The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation awarded scholarships to 14 students for the 2022-23 academic year, with the majority of students being multi-year recipients. The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program started in 2002 to provide financial assistance for post-high school education to dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in roadway work zones. The program is competitive and provides scholarships valued up to $10,000 per student each year. The program has awarded more than $400,000 since its inception. Applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism may be eligible for an additional $1,000 in honor of Chuck Bailey, a member of the roadway safety industry who died in 2002. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Dec. 14, 2022 –The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation awarded scholarships to 14 students for the 2022-23 academic year, with the majority of students being multi-year recipients. The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program started in 2002 to provide financial assistance for post-high school education to dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in roadway work zones. The program is competitive and provides scholarships valued up to $10,000 per student each year. The program has awarded more than $400,000 since its inception. Applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism may be eligible for an additional $1,000 in honor of Chuck Bailey, a member of the roadway safety industry who died in 2002. Joann Jones of Bluffton, Ind., and Sydney Parsons of Kelso, Wash., received the Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarship. Joann, whose father was killed in a work zone incident in 2009, attends Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland where she is studying to become an astrophysicist. While pursuing her studies, she has helped at track and basketball camps for children, helped feed the homeless and works at an animal shelter. This is her second year as an academic scholarship recipient. Sydney begins college this year and plans to attend Central Washington University to become a paramedic. She was inspired to pursue that field by her father’s debilitating injury in 2016. She has been active with Red Cross blood drives and volunteering with Lil Titans Outdoors where she works with youth. She also is a battalion chief in a fire science program. “One of the great joys of serving on The ATSS Foundation Board is getting the opportunity to assist aspiring college students as they navigate a path forward,” said Board Chair Kevin Shelton. “Each of the students receiving a scholarship has worked hard at their studies despite the tragedy they experienced in their young lives. I wish them the best as they seek to grow and learn and pursue their passions.” The Foundation Board interviews and carefully considers each application to ensure it responsibly stewards the resources entrusted to it. “The scholarships are possible because of the many individuals, companies and organizations that support The Foundation throughout the year and who believe in its mission to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “It’s a privilege to be able to support these students.” This year’s group of recipients includes two sets of siblings and represents 10 states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin. Aaron Baker – Le Center, Minn., Winona State University James Beard – Highland, Ill., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville first-time recipient Tessa Beard – Highland, Ill., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Daniel Hart – Ridge, N.Y., State University of New York Cortland Emily Hause – Eaton Rapids, Mich., Michigan State University Katie Hutt – Cleveland, Tenn., University of Tennessee Knoxville Joann Jones – Bluffton, Ind., Case Western Reserve University Mariela Lara – Ojai, Calif., California State University Channel Island Rylee O’Brien – Frederic, Wisc., Minnesota State University Mankato first-time recipient Sydney Parsons – Kelso, Wash., Central Washington University first-time recipient Alex Perez – Indianapolis, Ind., Indiana University first-time recipient Kaitlyn Pirelli – Chicago, Ill., Loyola University Chicago Megan Pirelli – Chicago, Ill., Chamberlain University College of Nursing Maycie Walker – Dry Ridge, Ky., University of Pikeville The ATSS Foundation is the charitable arm of ATSSA. It was formed in 1988 with the core purpose to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs.
Donors give ATSS Foundation record-breaking Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday donations resulted in more than $12,800 for The ATSS Foundation, the largest amount ever received by the nonprofit on this global day of philanthropy. The Georgia ATSSA Chapter GA-ATSSA got things rolling by offering $5,000 in matching funds. Then 31 individuals and businesses rose to the challenge, giving $7,851. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity shown by our supporters, including the Georgia Chapter of ATSSA by providing its $5,000 match,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “Yesterday’s record-breaking total demonstrates the heart of our members who back The Foundation and its efforts to spread awareness of the importance of work zone safety and to assist families whose lives are forever changed by a work zone tragedy.” Giving Tuesday donations resulted in more than $12,800 for The ATSS Foundation, the largest amount ever received by the nonprofit on this global day of philanthropy. The Georgia ATSSA Chapter GA-ATSSA got things rolling by offering $5,000 in matching funds. Then 31 individuals and businesses rose to the challenge, giving $7,851 to bring the total to $12,851. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity shown by our supporters, including the Georgia Chapter of ATSSA by providing its $5,000 match,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz. “Yesterday’s record-breaking total demonstrates the heart of our members who back The Foundation and its efforts to spread awareness of the importance of work zone safety and to assist families whose lives are forever changed by a work zone tragedy.” Giving Tuesday is observed the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the U.S. and is a day to “unleash the power of radical generosity around the world.” It has become a day for nonprofits to benefit from the generosity of individuals and groups. The Foundation works year-round to support families forever changed by work zone incidents. Here are some of the ways it helped in the first 11 months of 2022: 14 Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships and two Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarships were awarded for the 2022-23 academic year to the dependents of men and women killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents. 10 names were added to the National Work Zone Memorial. The National Work Zone Memorial visited 13 locations, reaching more than 8,650 people. The virtual National Work Zone Memorial was displayed at 17 events, reaching more than 7,155 people. Two Marty Weed Engineering Scholarships were awarded to newer public agency engineers from the Tennessee Department of Transportation TDOT and the Utah Department of Transportation UDOT to attend the 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo. The children’s work zone educational activity book reached more than 5,000 children as a result of 65 unique downloads reaching more than 4,140 children and the purchase of 889 copies. The Work Zone Safe Teen Driver program educated nearly 2,300 teens, ages 15-19, about work zone safety. Experience Camps Travel Scholarships were offered to children grieving a parent, sibling or caregiver lost to a roadway work zone incident.
Apply now for public agency scholarships for 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo
ATSSA’s Public Agency and Marty Weed Engineering scholarships offer department of transportation DOT officials the opportunity to participate in the largest gathering of roadway safety infrastructure officials in North America. There they can see the latest innovations in roadway safety, interact with companies that produce them and engage with industry experts on everything from pavement marking and traffic control to technology designed to protect roadway workers and interact with connected and automated vehicles. ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo takes place in Phoenix, Feb. 17-21 and will include the New Products Rollout, Innovation Awards that go to the top products as judged by DOT officials, and the ever-popular Circle of Innovation where transportation officials from across the country and around the globe hear about the latest topics. Scholarship applications are due by Sept. 19. Applicants will be notified by Oct. 12. ATSSA’s Public Agency and Marty Weed Engineering scholarships offer department of transportation DOT officials the opportunity to participate in the largest gathering of roadway safety infrastructure officials in North America. There they can see the latest innovations in roadway safety, interact with companies that produce them and engage with industry experts on everything from pavement marking and traffic control to technology designed to protect roadway workers and interact with connected and automated vehicles. ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo takes place in Phoenix, Feb. 17-21 and will include the New Products Rollout, Innovation Awards that go to the top products as judged by DOT officials, and the ever-popular Circle of Innovation where transportation officials from across the country and around the globe hear about the latest topics. “We value the partnerships we have with departments of transportation and want to support them in providing this valuable opportunity to attend our Convention & Traffic Expo,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. “We urge transportation officials from local, state and federal agencies to apply for the scholarships that help them take advantage of this great event.” ATSSA is offering more than 100 scholarships to public agency officials to attend the 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo. Public agency officials at city, county, state and federal agencies are encouraged to apply for a scholarship, which provides: Complimentary registration to the 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo Reimbursement of travel expenses up to $1,500, including coach airfare, meals, and lodging at one of the hotels in ATSSA's room block. Note: Hotel reimbursements are not available for hotels not included in the room block. Two scholarships are available – the Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship and the Public Agency Scholarship. The Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship is named for a longstanding member of ATSSA who spent 33 years with the Washington State Department of Transportation engaged in roadway safety infrastructure. This scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for new engineers employed by a public agency who specialize in work zone safety and temporary traffic control. Individuals meeting all of the following criteria are eligible to apply for the Marty Weed Engineering Scholarship: Employed by a public agency city, county, state or federal as an engineer or P.E. at the time the application is submitted and Have a maximum of seven years of work experience and Specialize or have a strong interest in work zone safety and temporary traffic control. Everyone employed by a city, county, state or federal agency is encouraged to apply for a Public Agency Scholarship. Preference is given based on the following criteria, which are not listed in rank order: Active Public Agency membership either Firm or Individual Previous recipient of an ATSSA scholarship "Key decision makers" for the agency Public agency officials employed in traffic safety/safety/work zones Public agency officials committed to attending all four days of ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo, Feb. 18-21. Scholarship recipients are required to participate in all Convention activities beginning at 8 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 19 through 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21. Those who are members of ATSSA technical committees are encouraged to participate Saturday, Feb. 18. ATSS Foundation events are held on Friday, Feb. 17. Scholarship applications are due by Sept. 19. Applicants will be notified by Oct. 12. Anyone who qualifies for but is not awarded one of the two Marty Weed Engineering Scholarships will automatically be considered for a Public Agency Scholarship.