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Caltrans Fallen Workers' Memorial Scholarship

The Caltrans Fallen Workers' Memorial Scholarships are awarded to children of Fallen Caltrans Workers to help selected students meet their post-high school educational goals.

In 2025, Ashly Saw, was the recipient of a Fallen Worker Memorial Scholarship. Ashly was a senior at KIPP Collegiate Academy in San Lorenzo, with the goal of attending University of California at Davis to study pre-law.

Scholarships normally are awarded in the amounts of $1,000 - $5,000. The number and size of the scholarships awarded each year is determined by the cash balance in the fund and the number of eligible scholarship applications received.

Each applicant must be the child or stepchild of a Caltrans worker who was killed while on the job. Further, the applicant must currently be enrolled in college, a vocational school, or is currently a senior in high school who plans to continue their education after graduation.

The scholarship award may only be used to attend a post-secondary school or institution. For these purposes, the term “institution” includes any four-year accredited college or university, two-year accredited college, accredited vocational-technical colleges, or other accredited training institutions.

Applicants must include the following:

  • An essay explaining how the scholarship would benefit the recipient
  • School transcripts
  • Proof of enrollment in a college, university, or training program
  • The name of the deceased parent/stepparent who died on the job (Please include the year of the worker’s passing, job title and the Caltrans district for which they worked)

All applications will be reviewed and scored by a panel of judges based on the following criteria:

  • Justification presented in the essay for financial assistance: 30%
  • Academic performance: 25%
  • Leadership and participation in school activities: 15%
  • Volunteer activities in the community: 20%
  • Overall Application presentation: 10%

Each applicant must email the application and all attachments to tom.chorneau@dot.ca.gov with “Fallen Workers Memorial Scholarship Application” in the subject line.

The deadline for applications is March 4, 2026.

Applications and instructions are also available on the California Transportation Foundation website.