AASHTO Journal - Children of Fallen Highway Workers Get ARTBA Funds

Seven children of transportation construction workers killed on the job will receive post-high school financial assistance for the 2025-2026 school year from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association Foundation scholarship initiative.

[Above image by ARTBA]

Established in 1999 with a gift from two Virginia highway contractors and their companies – Stan Lanford of Lanford Brothers and Jack Lanford with Adams Construction Company – the fund provides scholarships to the children of fallen highway workers of up to $10,000 annually.

ARTBA noted in a statement that, over the last 26 years, more than 225 scholarships have been awarded to students from 33 states to pursue undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as technical training.

The 2025 class of scholarship recipients includes:

Amy McNeil Stepan of Lumberton, TX: Stephan’s father, Jeffrey McNeil, was killed in 2005 while working for the Texas Department of Transportation. Stephan is a graduate student at Texas Woman’s University pursuing her master’s degree to become an acute care gerontology nurse practitioner.
Breana Jones, Gaston, SC: Jones’ father, Stan Jones, Sr., died in 2007 after being struck by a vehicle while at work for the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Jones will be a senior at Winthrop University studying graphic design.
Katie and Christopher Hutt, Cleveland, TN: Their father, Chris, was struck and killed in 2006 while installing signage for United Rentals in a highway work zone. Katie will be a senior studying architecture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where her brother Chris will be a sophomore.
Zoe Watts, Marshall, AR: Watts’ father, James “Kirk” Watts, was killed by overturned equipment while working for the Arkansas Department of Transportation in 2018. Watts will be a sophomore majoring in nursing at the University of Central Arkansas.
Bailey Edwards, Gadsden, AL: Edwards’ father, Keith, was killed in 2020 when he was struck by an 18-wheeler while placing road work signs for Vulcan Materials Company. Edwards will be a freshman studying biomedical sciences at Auburn University.
Toxey Voudrie, Trussville, AL: Voudrie’s father, Darin, was struck and killed while working for Jefferson County Roads and Transportation Department in 2015. Voudrie will be a freshman studying sports medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.