FHWA Recognizes Colorado, Others for Work on Civil Rights

26 August 1998
FHWA Cites Colorado, Others For Work on Civil Rights

        DENVER -- The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today
recognized the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) for
increasing the representation of minorities and women in transportation
and two FHWA employees for excellence in civil rights programs.

        CDOT received a "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" award during the
National Transportation Civil Rights Conference Aug. 24-26 in Denver and
civil rights awards were presented to David S. Nelson, assistant division
administrator for the FHWA's Arizona Division office, and William Van
Luchene, a transportation specialist in the agency's Alabama Division.

        "President Clinton and Secretary Slater are committed to
promoting opportunities for all Americans, and we applaud the Colorado
Department of Transportation for helping to carry out that commitment in
the transportation industry," FHWA Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said.
"We are particularly pleased to honor the efforts of Dave and Bill, both
of whom have demonstrated dedication and accomplishment in promoting
civil rights."

        CDOT was recognized for its success in increasing the
representation of minorities and women in management and for promoting
balance between family life and work activities through flexible work
hours and workplace.

        Nelson and Van Luchene received the agency's Aleman-Parker Award
for Excellence in Civil Rights.  The award is named after Lucio Aleman
Jr. and Jerry L. Parker, two FHWA employees who died in the Oklahoma City
bombing on April 19, 1995.

        Three other awards also were presented during the conference:
North Carolina A&T University received the agency's Minority Institution
of Higher Education Achievement Award;  the Milwaukee-based
Transportation Alliance for New Solutions received FHWA's Civil Rights
Partnership Award;  and the Boston-based Northeast Women in
Transportation (NEWIT) received the FHWA Civil Rights Showcase Award.

        North Carolina A&T was cited for helping to prepare students
through its Transportation Institute for careers in the transportation
field.  The Transportation Alliance was honored for developing a
four-year-old pilot program that prepares women and minorities in
Wisconsin for jobs in highway trades and occupations.  NEWIT was
recognized for promoting the use of On-the-Job Training Supportive
Services to increase training and employment opportunities for women and
minorities in highway construction.

        Nelson, a 27-year veteran of the agency, has had assignments in
California, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska and Washington, D.C.  He was
recognized for his work as an instructor with the Women in Highway
Construction training program.  He has a bachelor's degree in engineering
from Walla Walla College in Washington state, is married and has two
sons.

        Van Luchene has been with the agency for 23 years and is an
environment and technology engineer in the Alabama Division office, where
he is also responsible for working with the Alabama Department of
Transportation on civil rights programs.  He graduated from the
University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

        This is the second time the Aleman-Parker Award was presented.
The first was in 1996 to A. Graham Bailey, assistant division
administrator of the FHWA's Maine Division, and to Kenneth Ivy, program
development engineer in the agency's North Carolina Division office.

        The FHWA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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