ATSSA Signal November December 2020

American Traffic Safety Services Association 34 The Foundation Dad’s injuries threatened plans to become teacher Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship provided opportunity By Pamela Gould, ATSSA Staff Daniel Hart’s father led the Cub Scout troop he and his older brother took part in as kids. He started a Boy Scout troop when they got older because therewasn’t one intheircommunity.Andhewasalways there to encourage Daniel in sports. Daniel and his father were always close, but when Thomas Hart became perma- nently disabled in a work zone incident last year, they grew even closer. Thomas Hart, then 53, was working as a foreman for United Fence & Guardrail Corp. on Long Island, N.Y., on March 27, 2019 when a vehicle broadsided his work truck shortly after 2 p.m. Hart had pulled thetruck—whichwasequippedwithhazard andconstruction lights—offthesideof the SouthernStateParkway tofill out reports and was parked there when an out-of- control vehicleplowed intothedriver’sside. Hesufferedaconcussionandmultipleother injuries to his neck and the left side of his body. Hehasundergoneseveral surgeries since then and has more on the horizon. Daniel, now 18, is the youngest of three siblings andwithhis father unable towork and in need of ongoing medical care, he wondered if his career plans might need revision. ButwhenhisDaddiscoveredThe American Traffic Safety Services Founda - tion Roadway Worker Memorial Scholar- ship Program, he had renewed hope. This spring, Daniel was oneof 14 students awarded a scholarship for the 2020–21 academic year. The scholarshipprogram is competitive and offers up to $10,000 annually for the dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents. Students who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism are eligible to apply for an additional $1,000 scholarship given in honor of Chuck Bailey, a roadway safety industry member who died in 2002. Daniel receivedbothscholarships, earning theChuckBaileyMemorial Scholarship for his many volunteer efforts in his home - townof Ridge, N.Y. That includedbuilding benches for a local historic site as part of his Eagle Scout service project. His favoriteactivity, however, is the “Bless- ings inaBackpack” programthat provides food for needy children to sustain them through the weekend. Daniel helped pack the food on Tuesdays after school. They were then sent home in backpacks on Fridays. “Iwas very surprised [TheFoundation] has a scholarshipprogramtohelppeople like us,”Daniel said. “This reallyhelps.…I think thatwithout it I wouldn’t beable toattend the college I chose.” Newsofthescholarshipwasespeciallyhelp- ful in thespringwhen thepandemicmade it even harder to find financial resources, he said. Daniel’s goal is tobecome an elementary school teacher. He was inspired by his first-grade teacher andbelieves the initial yearsof schoolingprovide the foundation for success he needed to help himall the way to graduation. Withallthatthefamily’sbeenthrough,Daniel considerednot leaving for a college that’s fivehoursaway, but his fatherwantedhim to seize the opportunity, so he started at the State University of New York at Cort- land in August. “My dad is one of the biggest inspirations of my life,” Daniel said. “He has shown me that whatever happens—even in the hardest times of your life—he’s there for me, even inwhat he’sbeengoing through.” Since his father’s accident, everyone in the family has pitched in to help with ThomasHart’s care. They initially needed tohelphimmovesafely throughthehouse because of the concussion’s effects and an injured leg. Danielhelpedhimwithstairsanddrovehim tomedical appointmentsafter school and onweekends. One time, whenhismother couldn’t be there, he stayed overnight in the hospital sohis dadwouldn’t be alone. Henever thought hemight losehis father until the first surgerywhenhewas sched - uled to be hospitalized for one night and it stretched into four. Since then, each surgery produces that fear. “It’saconstant,” hesaid. “It also teachesme to never take him for granted.”  To reach Pamela Gould, pamela.gould@atssa.com . Daniel Hart celebrated his high school graduation at a local restaurant in Long Island, N.Y., with his parents and older brother. They weren’t able to celebrate at a restaurant until August because of restrictions due to the pandemic. The special event included, from left, brother Thomas Hart IV, mother Elizabeth Hart, Daniel, and father Thomas Hart III.

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