The children of highway workers killed or permanently disabled on the job will receive financial assistance in their pursuit of higher education thanks to scholarships announced by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF).

Students from Iowa, Tennessee, Oregon, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and Montana have been named 2005 recipients of the ARTBA-TDF's Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship. The program was established in 1999 with a gift to the Foundation from two Roanoke, Virginia, highway contractors and their companies — Stan Lanford, president of Lanford Brothers, and Jack Lanford, president of the Adams Construction Company. Both men are past chairmen of the national association.

More than 1,000 people — including more than 100 highway workers — died in 2003 in roadway construction work zone accidents. An additional 40,000 people — enough to fill most major league baseball stadiums in the United States — were injured in these sites.

Kristin Cooper, Hanlontown, Iowa. Kristin's father, Ron Cooper Sr., an employee of the Iowa Department of Transportation, was killed in April 1998 while working on a highway project. Kristin is a student at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and is pursuing a degree in criminal justice.

Sarah Beth Farley, Sweetwater, Tenn. Sarah Farley's father, Michael Farley, was an employee of the Tennessee Department of Transportation when he was killed in a 1991 accident on I-40 near Mt. Juliet. Farley attends Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, and is studying business.

Vanessa Hayes, West Plains, Mo. Vanessa's father, Dennis Ray Hayes, an employee of the Missouri Department of Transportation, drowned in 1995 after stopping to help rescue a 69-year old woman who had lost control of her car and drove it into a pond near St. James on Interstate 44. The woman survived. Vanessa, a May 2005 graduate of West Plains High School, has been accepted at Southwest Missouri State in Springfield for the fall semester and will study computer graphics.

Peter Howland, Gresham, Ore. Peter Howland's father, Lawrence Howland, was an employee of the Oregon Department of Transportation when he was killed in February 1997. Howland attends The Master's College in Santa Clarita, Calif., and is majoring in biblical studies/youth ministry.

Timothy Hulitt, Bolton, Miss. Hulitt's father, Charles Hulitt, was disabled in a 1996 accident while working for the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Hulitt attends Jackson State (Miss.) University and is pursuing a degree in computer engineering.

Sarah O'Bryan, Louisville, Ky. Sarah's father, James O'Bryan Jr., a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet inspector, was hit by a car and killed in 1994 while taking measurements for a pavement marking project on Interstate 65 near Fern Valley Road. Sarah will be attending Jefferson Community College in Louisville this fall.

Emily Parsons and Lily Beth Parsons, Sandyville, W. Va. Emily and Lily Beth's father, Douglas Parsons, was killed in a 1988 accident while working for the West Virginia Department of Highways. Emily attends the University of West Virginia at Parkersburg and is majoring in elementary education. Lily Beth attends the University of West Virginia in Morgantown and is pursuing a nursing degree.

Jessie and Brad Patterson, East Helena, Mont. Jessie and Brad's father, Eldon Patterson, was killed in an accident while working as an employee of the Montana Department of Transportation in April 1996. Jessie attends Western Washington University in Bellingham and majors in marine biology. Brad will be attending the University of Montana-Helena College of Technology in the fall and pursuing an associate's degree in carpentry.

William "Brandon" Rice, Centerville, Ind. Brandon's father, Willie Rice Jr., was disabled in a 2002 accident while working for Atlas Excavating, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Brandon is attending Purdue University in West Lafayette and is studying to become a veterinarian.

Lacey Weatherall, Grenada, Miss. Lacey's father, Jimmy Weatherall, an employee of the Mississippi Highway Department, was killed in 1988 while painting a stripe at a construction area on Interstate 55 near Grenada. Lacey, a May 2005 graduate of Kirk Academy in Grenada, will attend the University of Mississippi in the fall and plans to major in psychology.

The ARTBA-TDF is interested in receiving contact leads on students who could benefit from the scholarship program. Please share them with ARTBA Scholarship and Awards Manager Rhonda Britton at (202) 289-4434. Individuals and firms interested in supporting the scholarship program can do so by sending a fully tax-deductible contribution, payable to the ARTBA-TDF, at 1010 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20001.