ATSSA Signal Sept/Oct 2018

American Traffic Safety Services Association 28 The Foundation Foundation RoadwayWorker Memorial Scholarship recipient looks back on her experiences Erica Pearson, a previous recipient of The Foundation’s Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program, reflect- ed on the work zone crash that changed her family’s life, and how she was able to use the scholarship funds to advance her dreams. Pearson received the scholarship while she was a member of the U.S. Air Force based out of Aurora, Colorado, as well as the Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholar- ship, in 2006 and 2012, totaling $6,000 in support of her Bachelor’s degree in business administration fromHawaii Pa- cific University. She has also gone on to obtain her Master’s degree in human relations from the Universit y of Oklahoma. When reflecting on the scholarship and her education, Pearson talked about the day many years ago when a work zone crash impacted her family’s lives forev- er. Her father was working in a highway work zone in 2002, when he was struck by an impaired driver. While the crash led to the amputation of her father’s left foot, it helped her to grow closer to him, and inspired Pearson to obtain an edu- cation and pursue a career helping others. “My dad still works as hard as ever. After losing his foot he suffered excruciating phantom nerve pain, has had nine The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation (The Foundation) exists to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs. The Foundation’s Mission surgeries, and endured ill-fitting and deteriorating prosthetics. Despite all of this, he still works six days a week and 60 to 80 hours a week in the summer- time. My dad is my hero. I will never give up because of the tremendous resilience he has shown throughout his life and as an amputee,” said Pearson. Pearson has served in the United States Air Force for eight years, currently in the role of Technical Sergeant. She has won several awards including the Senior Air- man Below-the-Zone award, the Airman Leadership School John L. Levitow award, the 2015NoncommissionedOfficer (NCO) of the Year award, the 2016 United States Air Force in Europe’s Command and Con- trol NCO of the Year award, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Being a part of something much bigger than myself was what The Foundation inspired in me. To have so many strangers believe in you, it was transformational. I wanted more of that. I was inspired by what The Foundation stands for.