FRANKFORT — More than 180 former and current Kentucky Transportation Cabinet civil engineering scholarship recipients gathered Thursday in Frankfort to celebrate a 75-year signature program.

The KYTC civil engineering scholarship program has seen more than 2,000 students receive $19.4 million since it began in 1948. Decades after its inception, the program expanded to include the civil engineering technology scholarship; earlier this year, it added the construction management scholarship. The two additional scholarships have collectively funded 84 students’ education with $661,000 in awards.

All scholarship recipients receive tuition stipends, hands-on experience during higher education, and guaranteed full-time employment after graduation.

“This scholarship program builds on two Team Kentucky priorities that will make our commonwealth better: education and transportation,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news release Friday. “It’s been incredible to see the talented leaders who have come through this program and continue to make a difference in Kentucky, from road and bridge projects to disaster response and more.”

The program has proven an effective recruitment tool and launch pad for successful engineering careers.

Charles Briggs was honored as the longest active KYTC scholarship recipient during the event. He first received a scholarship in 1961 while studying at the University of Kentucky. Briggs currently serves as an engineer in the KYTC Division of Maintenance.

Reflecting on the scholarship program, Briggs said, “I probably would not have been able to afford to go to college to get my degree without it. It was the start of everything.”

Former scholarship recipients have held top management positions at KYTC, including multiple state highway engineers, chief district engineers and branch managers.

For more information about these scholarships and other educational opportunities, visit https://transportation.ky.gov/Education/ or call (502) 564-3730.