US scholarship fund for children of fallen construction workers expanded

A US scholarship fund that offers post-high school financial assistance to the children of construction workers killed or permanently disabled while working on certain projects has been extended.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced that the newly renamed Lanford Family Transportation Construction Worker Memorial Scholarship will extend assistance to the sons, daughters or legally adopted children of workers killed or rendered disabled on airport, bridge, marine, port and waterways, public transit, road, railroad, tunnel and utility projects.

ARTBA analysis of federal data found that around 150 transportation construction workers are killed in the US every year on the job.

The programme was created in 1999 as the “Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship” with a gift from Roanoke (Va.) contractors and brothers Jack Lanford (Adams Construction) and Stan Lanford (Lanford Brothers Company). Nearly $800,000 in aid has been provided to worthy students in 33 states.

Stan Lanford said, “The 2021 infrastructure law is providing record levels of federal investment in all modes of surface transportation to repair and modernize an aging network.

“The American people will be the ultimate beneficiaries of these improvements. At the same time, however, the increased investments also mean many more project work sites that put more construction workers at risk. That’s why now is the right time to expand the scope of the scholarship.”

Paul Yarossi, the ARTBA Foundation chairman and a senior executive with American infrastructure design firm HNTB added, “The Lanford family has further cemented its legacy as a transportation construction leader with its commitment to expanding the scholarship’s reach.

“We will be able to provide a ray of hope for more children of construction workers who make the ultimate sacrifice while building a better America.”

Applications will be considered for the 2024-25 academic year and are available at artbafoundation.org.