Meet Two Women of Asphalt: CAT Scholarship Recipients for 2024
BY AsphaltPro Staff
Women of Asphalt and Caterpillar award 2024 scholarship to Meghan Roy and Lilia Yakimyuk
From a competitive pool of more than 120 applicants, Meghan Roy and Lilia Yakimyuk received the 2024 Women of Asphalt Scholarship in conjunction with Caterpillar Inc in fourth quarter 2024. Caterpillar provided the women free registration to the Caterpillar Paving Operations Training, which took place the week of Nov. 18. In the October 2024 WofA newsletter, the organization stated:
“Women of Asphalt has proudly supported Meghan and Lilia’s professional development by covering all travel-related expenses, ensuring they can fully focus on enhancing their skills and advancing in the industry without the burden of travel costs. This includes airfare, accommodation, transportation, and meals, enabling a seamless and enriching experience.”
Caterpillar Paving Operations Training is a four-day program designed to enhance paving technique, improve mat quality and boost profitability. The course offers two hours in the classroom each day, followed by six hours at a demonstration site where students receive hands-on training with Cat® paving equipment.
Meet Tilcon Connecticut’s Meghan Roy
Meghan Roy, photo courtesy of Women of Asphalt
Roy is a paving laborer at Tilcon Connecticut, where she has worked for the past three years. From the personal essay she submitted with her scholarship application, we learn that she’s not only passionate about asphalt, but she’s also sharing her strong work ethic and desire to continue learning with her 11-year-old son.
“When I first started at Tilcon, I was a shoveler and have now progressed to be a Shuttle
Buggy grounds-person on our Ultra-Thin crew. My typical work schedule is Sunday – Thursday, from 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. My job varies monthly based on project schedules ranging from interstate highways to local town roads.
“As I progress in my career journey, I want to continue to learn more about the business and the asphalt industry. I am curious to know how each machine works and the different parts… Each night, I prioritize asking our operators questions to expand my knowledge on how to run the different machines. My goal is to eventually have experience running machines and teach others on how to become an operator. I am fascinated by the whole production of paving, working with regular Asphalt and Ultra-Thin Asphalt. Starting my career as a Laborer has given me a solid foundation in the asphalt industry. Now, I want to build on that knowledge and advance my career by becoming an operator.
Roy’s desire to advance her career includes advancing those around her. She shared in her essay: “For me, working in the asphalt industry is more than just a job—it’s a way of life. It’s how I provide for my son, it’s a career that has given me a sense of purpose, and most importantly, it’s what inspires me to strive for career advancement. If I can use my experience to increase awareness, share knowledge, and create a supportive community for other aspiring women, that would mean everything to me.
“I owe a lot of my asphalt knowledge to the men who taught me. Now, I want to learn and grow my skills so that I can be the woman who teaches the future generation.”
Meet Lakeside Industries’ Lilia Yakimyuk
Lilia Yakimyuk, photo courtesy of Women of Asphalt
Yakimyuk is a roller operator for Lakeside Industries and has been an apprentice equipment operator in Local 302 for the past four years. From the astounding personal essay she submitted with her scholarship application, we learn that she’s the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, born in the United States and honed by hard work and a drive to succeed. Her desire to help others in the workplace is a built-in character trait that shows an empathetic and team spirit valuable to an asphalt paving crew.
She wrote that during a job at a laundry facility when she was 18 years old, she assisted co-workers whom the supervisor didn’t have time to assist because, “it was painful to watch the struggle of others. Manual labor was no stranger to me.”
Her extra efforts there didn’t go unnoticed, and she was promoted to production supervisor shortly after two months of employment. Although there were promotions and advancements at that job, it wasn’t the fulfilling post she knew she could achieve, and she knew to go for more, she needed to study at night to attain her G.E.D.
So, she did.
That level of effort, reaching for more, and attaining education has served Yakimyuk well over the years as she achieved her G.E.D., served in the U.S. Army until age 26, and dove into the Helmets to Hardhats program. It’s not been an easy journey, but it’s one she’s proud of.
She wrote, “I love my job. I feel like I found my place in the world. I love the bumpy road I took to get to where I am today. I love the rush of conquering challenges. Doing things you’ve never thought you’d be in a position to do. I love all the people I’ve met, who mentored, guided, encouraged, and motivated me. I am, without a doubt, a very blessed woman. To have a job I look forward to every morning, co-workers who are arguably the best in the field, and an employer who in my opinion is the best paving company in the Northwest area.”
Wins for the Industry
Rachel Quam, director of sales for North America, paving products at Caterpillar’s Global Construction & Infrastructure, shared, “I would say both these ladies saw it as a growth opportunity for themselves within their respective careers.”
The WofA organization wrote, “These incredible women have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their craft and are making waves in the asphalt industry. We are proud to support them on their journey toward further growth and success.”
Watch for announcements regarding the 2025 Women of Asphalt Scholarship opportunity, which the organization will be sharing via social media in late first quarter 2025. And start preparing your personal essay now.