Scholarships
The California Transportation Foundation (CTF) has been providing scholarships to California transportation students since 1988. In 2011 CTF, in conjunction with its partners, provided a total of $42,750.00 in scholarship awards. To qualify for CTF scholarships, recipients must be intent on a career in transportation and be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or documented, international students. Each scholarship has additional qualifications, some of which are listed below. Scholarship dollar amounts range from $5,000 to $300. For more information about a particular scholarship contact the person indicated.
Buser Memorial Scholarship
Undergraduate surveying majors at California State University, Fresno are eligible to apply. The scholarship is given in memory of Calle Buser who was a District 7 Land Surveyor killed at his work site by an errant vehicle.
Contact: Bob Davies at bob.davies@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Christopher Vang
Claudia Barrueta
Erielle Lamb
Buser Memorial Scholarship Winners, 2010
Bush Memorial Scholarship
High school seniors living within the Oakland Unified School District and children of Caltrans District 4 Maintenance Workers are eligible to apply. D’Juan Bush was a District 4 Maintenance worker killed by an errant driver at a roadside worksite.
Contact: Carla Body at carla_body@dot.ca.gov for more information.
California Transportation Commission Scholarship ($1,000)
University students attending the CTF Transportation Education Symposium (for information about the CTF Transportation Education Symposium click here) in 2012 are eligible to apply.
Contact: CTF at sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org for more information.
Sam Halstead
UC Davis
2011 CTC Scholarship Winner
Caltrans District 1 Scholarship
High school seniors or college undergraduates living in Caltrans District 1 (includes the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, and Mendocino) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Ann Marie Jones at ann.m.jones@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/scholarship.htm
Caltrans District 2 Scholarship
High school seniors or college undergraduate students living in Caltrans District 2 (includes the counties of Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity and portions of Butte and Sierra), who are sponsored by a District 2 Caltrans employee, are eligible to apply.
Contact: Dave Moore at dave_moore@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 3 Scholarship
High school seniors or college undergraduate students living in Caltrans District 3 (includes the counties of Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Mark Dinger at mark_dinger@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Eric Keber
Michaela Pederson
Caltrans District 3 Scholarship Winners
Caltrans District 5 Scholarship
High school seniors living in Caltrans District 5 (includes the counties of Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Janet Newland at Janet_Newland@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 6/Central Region Transportation Scholarship
High school seniors who attend high school in Caltrans District 6 (includes the counties of Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Lisa Soleno at lisa_soleno@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 6/Central Region Employee Family Scholarship
High school seniors related to current, former, or retired Caltrans District 6 employee who attend high school in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings or Kern county are eligible to apply.
Contact: Lisa Soleno at lisa_soleno@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 7 Adopt-a-School Scholarship
High school seniors attending Franklin High School’s Arroyo Seco Academy (Charter School) or Wilson High School’s Transportation Career Academy Program in the City of Los Angeles are eligible to apply.
Contact: Gwiin Correa at gwiin_correa@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 9 Scholarship
High school seniors living in Caltrans District 9 (includes the counties of Mono, Inyo and eastern Kern) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Deborah Lowgren at deborah_lowgren@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 10 Scholarship
High school seniors living in Caltrans District 10 (includes the counties of Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne) and children of Caltrans District 10 employees are eligible to apply.
Contact: Zelie Nogueira at zelie_nogueira@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans District 11 Disability Advisory Committee Scholarship
Full time students with the intent of pursuing a transportation related field of study are eligible to apply.
Contact: Dee Hooker at dee_hooker@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Abigail Goode
Caltrans District 11 Scholarship Winner, 2011
Caltrans District 12 Scholarship
High school seniors attending the Anaheim Transportation Academy and children of Caltrans District 12 employees are eligible to apply.
Contact: Sarah Sanchez at sarah_sanchez@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans Division of Equipment Stanley Jacobs/PECG Mechanical Engineering Scholarship
Junior-level or above mechanical engineering (ME) and mechanical engineering technology (MET) students attending California State University, Sacramento, University of California, Davis or University of the Pacific, Stockton.
Applicants must be in good academic standing (> 2.0 GPA overall and in major), plan to pursue a career in the vehicle engineering or construction equipment engineering field and have an interest in learning more about the Caltrans Division of Equipment headquarters shop in Sacramento.
The deadline for applications in 2012 is March 27 by 5pm.
Download the application for the scholarship here.
Contact: Philip Spartz at phil.spartz@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans Right of Way Scholarship
College juniors who are related to past or present Caltrans Right of Way employees are eligible to apply.
Contact: Suzette Shellone at suzette_shellone@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans Transportation High School Scholarship
CTF and the California Department of Transportation, Planning programs are offering one $500 scholarship. The scholarship recipient must be a child or grandchild of a current Caltrans employee. This scholarship is available to a high school senior who is inspired to pursue a college degree at an accredited junior college or university in California in a transportation planning related field.
Contact: Marleece Peart at marleece_peart@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Caltrans Transportation Planning Scholarship
CTF and the California Department of Transportation, Planning programs, are offering three $1,000 scholarships to promising student assistants or student interns. These scholarships are intended to recognize, encourage, and assist outstanding students who are pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree in planning or a related field. Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in working in the planning profession. The Caltrans Transportation Planning Scholarship has been discontinued until the Student Program is re-instituted.
Contact: Marleece Peart at marleece_peart@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Civil Engineer Scholarship
University and college undergraduate students majoring in civil engineering who are professionally affiliated with Caltrans (interns, volunteers, student assistants, employees) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/scholarships.htm
Shelby Beddard
Civil Engineer Scholarship Winner, 2011
Cowgill Memorial Scholarship
High school seniors in the San Bernardino Unified School District intending to major in civil engineering are eligible to apply. The scholarship is given in memory of John Cowgill, an early, esteemed Design Engineer in Caltrans District 8.
Contact: Linda Bingham at linda_bingham@dot.ca.gov for more information.
CTF Board Scholarship ($2,500)
University students attending the CTF Transportation Education Symposium (for information about the CTF Transportation Education Symposium click here) in 2012 are eligible to apply.
Contact: CTF at sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org for more information.
Wilson Leung
UC Berkeley
2011 CTF Board Scholarship Winner
CTF Education Symposium Scholarship ($5,000)
University students attending the CTF Transportation Education Symposium (for information about the CTF Transportation Education Symposium click here) in 2012 are eligible to apply.
Contact: CTF at sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org for more information.
Samuel Levy
USC
2011 CTF Education Symposium Scholarship Winner
CTF Heckeroth Scholarship ($5,000)
University and community college students who have received a scholarship from CTF as a high school student in the prior year, completed their freshman year, are enrolled as a sophomore and remain interested in transportation as a career, are eligible to apply.
Contact: CTF at sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org for more information.
Nick Buczek
Georgia Institute of Technology
2011 CTF Heckeroth Scholarship Winner
Fallen Worker Memorial Scholarship
Children and dependents of transportation workers who are killed accidentally on the job are eligible to apply.
Contact: Sarah West at sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org for more information.
Fleming Memorial Scholarship
Juniors and Seniors enrolled in Civil Engineering departments at University of the Pacific, University of California Davis, or California State University Sacramento intending to pursue a career in Transportation are invited to apply.
Download the application for this scholarship here.
Contact: Susan Fleming at trfleming@comcast.net for more information.
Vicki Thai
University of the Pacific
2012 Fleming Memorial Scholarship Winner
G. Langsner Memorial Scholarship
University and college undergraduate students majoring in civil engineering and who are professionally affiliated with Caltrans (interns, volunteers, student assistants, employees) are eligible to apply. This scholarship is given in memory of George Langsner a pioneer freeway designer.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/scholarships.htm
Hveem Memorial Scholarship
Current or former employees, volunteers or student assistants at the Caltrans Trans Lab in Sacramento are eligible to apply. The scholarship is given in memory of Francis N. Hveem a pioneer in highway materials testing.
Contact: Thomas Song at thomas_song@dot.ca.gov for more information.
M. Langsner Memorial Scholarship
University and college undergraduate students majoring in human resources who are professionally affiliated with Caltrans (interns, volunteers, student assistants, employees) are eligible to apply. This scholarship is awarded in memory of Marian Smith Langsner an esteemed Caltrans Personnel Officer.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/scholarships.htm
Roberts Memorial Scholarship
High school seniors planning to major in civil engineering are eligible to apply. This scholarship is given in memory of Jim Roberts, a nationally-recognized Caltrans Bridge Engineer.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Wyatt Sing
Heiha Vasanthakuma
Roberts Memorial Scholarship Winners, 2011
Sudhakar Memorial Scholarship
High school seniors who are children of Caltrans employees are eligible to apply. This scholarship is given in memory of Arun Sudhakar, District Branch Chief of the Bay Bridge-New East Span toll bridge.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/scholarships.htm
Traffic Operations Scholarship
Undergraduates and Caltrans interns studying transportation planning, civil engineering, or electrical engineering are eligible to apply.
Contact: Samantha Traverso at samantha_traverso@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Transportation Scholarship
Undergraduate university and college students majoring in transportation fields other than civil engineering, and who are professionally affiliated with Caltrans (interns, volunteers, student assistants, employees) are eligible to apply.
Contact: Barry Fisher at barry_fisher@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/scholarships.htm
Weston Memorial Scholarship
CTF and the California Department of Transportation, Planning programs are offering three $500 scholarships. The employee must be employed full-time with Caltrans for a minimum of six months, and must be pursuing a degree in Transportation Planning or a related field. You must be working towards a Baccalaureate or a Graduate degree at an accredited 4 year university or college in Planning or a related field, and plan to work in Transportation Planning upon graduation.
Contact: Marleece Peart at Marleece_Peart@dot.ca.gov for more information.
 Kevin Tucker |
 Connery Cepeda |
 Daniel Tran |
Wyatt Memorial Scholarship
College undergraduates enrolled in accounting and related majors in Sacramento area universities and colleges are eligible to apply. Sally Wyatt was an esteemed employee of Caltrans Audits and Investigations.
Contact: Lynn Carrier at lynn_carrier@dot.ca.gov for more information.
Sponsoring Committees
The majority of the scholarship programs involve the active participation of interested employees who organize committees to administer the awards. Eligible students are either graduating high school seniors or college students interested in careers in transportation. The sponsoring committees determine eligible student group, application criteria, selection process and the amount of the awards. CTF receives contributions to its Scholarship Fund and disburses the grants. The Foundation adds some of its own money in the process – 50% of an initial program year’s grant(s) and 25% in subsequent years.
Endowed Programs
The Foundation’s largest endowed program is the Jim Roberts Memorial Fund, currently granting three or four annual $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors interested in transportation careers.
In addition to our cooperative programs, families or groups sometimes create a scholarship program in memory of a loved one or to honor a transportation individual. Some of these programs are short term and others are endowed in perpetuity. A $1,000 annual award is possible if $20,000 is conservatively invested in today’s economic environment.
Establishing a Scholarship
Setting up a scholarship fund correctly requires legal filings with the IRS, audits, and time spent analyzing financial records. CTF streamlines the process by serving as the fiscal agent for people wishing to establish a transportation scholarship fund. Click here to view CTF’s Scholarship Policy. If you are interested in establishing a scholarship, contact Sarah West, Executive Director, CTF at 916-489-1629 or sarah_west@transportationfoundation.org.
