2025 Recognition Award Recipients

 

Woman of the Year

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Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director, Illinois Tollway

 

 

 

Member of the Year

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Alexa Gangemi, WTSI Board of Directors 2024-2026, Vice President and Senior Project Manager, HNTB

 

 

Employer of the Year

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Innovative Transportation Solutions Award

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Sarah Searcy, Emerging Technologies and Innovation Manager, North Carolina Department of Transportation

 

 

 

Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award

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Genoveva Arellano, Owner and Principal, Arellano Associates

 

 

 

 

Honorable Ray LaHood Award

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David Didier, Chief Operating Officer - East Region, AECOM

 

 

 

Mary Peters Inspirational Leader Award

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Mary Jane O’Meara, Vice President and National Tolling Representative, HNTB

 

 

 

2025 Scholarship Recipients

 

HNTB Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Thalia Christoforatos, Northeastern University 

HNTB Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Veronica De Santos Quezada, University of California-Los Angeles 

AECOM Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Yasmine AL Moghrabi, Florida International University 

HDR Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Francisca Kasubi, Florida International University 

Jacobs Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Adrianna Lucia Fragozo Alvernia, University of New Mexico

WSP Strategic Partner Scholarship 

Kennedy Stephens, Howard University 

 

Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship 

Claudia Boero, Mercer University 

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship 

Zhichen Lui, University of Michigan

Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates  

Madison Masters, Oklahoma State University

Bridgette Beato Leadership Legacy Scholarship for Graduates  

Claire McGinnis, University of California - Davis

Junior College/Trade School Scholarship

Caitlin Schuldt, Aims Community College (Flight Center)

WTS Transportation YOU High School Scholarship 

Trisha Patel, Folsom High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Past Recipients

2024 Recognition Award Recipients

 

Woman of the Year

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Renee N. Hamilton
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Toll Road Investor Partnership II L.P (TRIP II)

 

 

 

 

Member of the Year

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Katie Kalugin
Deputy Director of Policy Development, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

 

 

 

Employer of the Year

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Innovative Transportation Solutions Award

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I-95 Variable Speed Limit (VSL)
 

 

 

Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award

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Gail Woods
Vice President, TransSystems

 

 

 

Honorable Ray LaHood Award

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Kome Ajise
Executive Director, Southern California Association of Governments

 

 

 

 

Jannet Walker-Ford Breaking Barriers Award

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Jannet Walker-Ford
WTS International Chair, Board of Directors 2022-2024
Senior Vice President & Principal Director - National Transit & Rail Business Line Leader, WSP USA

 

 

Mary Peters Inspirational Leader Award

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Nuria Fernandez
Former Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, USDOT (Retired)

 

 

 

2024 Scholarship Recipients

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WTS Jannet Walker-Ford Leadership Legacy Scholarship

Kim Jarosz
Southern Illinois University

Molitoris Leadership Scholarship for Undergraduates

Arpita Saha
Columbia University

Sharon D. Banks Memorial Scholarship

Sarah Michalak
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

WSP Strategic Partner Scholarship

Thao Christy Tran
University of Texas Permian Basin

HNTB Pinnacle Partner Scholarships

Rachel Barnham 
University of Colorado Denver

Vivian Achieng Otien
Texas Southern University

HDR Strategic Partner Scholarship

Jessica Allen
University of Colorado Denver

Jacobs Strategic Partner Scholarship

Tumlumbe Juliana Chengula
Texas Southern University

Junior College and Trade School Scholarship

Madison Glassett
Tarrant County College

Transportation YOU High School Scholarship

Payton Miller
BASIS Phoenix

Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship

Jolina Karam
Arizona State University