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League of Railway Women (LRW) Awards 2018 Scholarship to Rocky Mountaineer's Payton Comazzetto

Nashville, TN, September 11, 2018 Payton Comazzetto, Assistant Station Manager for the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour company in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, has been named the winner of the 2018 Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship by the League of Railway Women (LRW)

Nashville, TN, September 11, 2018 Payton Comazzetto, Assistant Station Manager for the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour company in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, has been named the winner of the 2018 Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship by the League of Railway Women (LRW)

The scholarship winner was announced by the LRW at its 2018 annual conference in Nashville, part of the RSI/CMA 2018 Rail Expo and Technical Conference. The $1,500 annual scholarship was created in 2014 by the LRW to honor the memory of Connie Sumara, a founding member and former president.

Comazzetto has eleven years of experience working within the railway industry, having held progressively responsible positions with Rocky Mountaineer, an award-winning passenger tourist railway that takes travelers through the Canadian Rockies. Comazzetto was awarded Rocky Mountaineer's President's Award in 2014 for her dedication to providing outstanding guest service to the railway's passengers. Commazetto attends Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops where she is pursuing a degree in First Nations studies. 

"Canada's railways are built on traditional Indigenous territories; thus, having an understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing and being are essential when negotiating railway contracts, promoting safety, and educating the public," Comazzetto said. "As Indigenous histories, traditions, or current achievements are rarely recognized, I believe it is important to gain a strong understanding of this area in order to be a positive leader for my colleagues and reshape the conversations we have with each other and our guests."

"We were impressed by Payton's commitment to serving the passengers who ride on Rocky Mountaineer, as well as her dedication to helping her community and improving relations between her company and the indigenous communities located where it operates, said Krista Leben, LRW Scholarship Chair. "Payton has shown real leadership in this regard, and we are pleased to be able to support her efforts to further her education and bring new knowledge to the railway industry." 

Each year, the League of Railway Industry Women awards scholarships to qualified students from around the rail industry who are pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to a woman involved in the rail industry who is pursuing post-secondary studies. 

For further information: Media Contact: Emilia Marceta, LRW Chair, Public Relations & Outreach, E-Mail: staff@railwaywomen.org; LRW Scholarship Contact: Krista Leben, LRW Scholarship Chair, E-Mail: scholarship@railwaywomen.org.

About the League of Railway Women

Founded in 1997, the League of Railway Women (LRW) is committed to improving the railroad industry by connecting and cultivating women in rail. Our mission is to advance the representation, recognition and opportunities for women, thereby promoting diversity and improving the business results of the railroad industry. Learn more at www.railwaywomen.org.

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