Scholarships | American Bus Association

American Bus Association Scholarships

The American Bus Association Foundation offers scholarships in eight categories, awarding up to 23 yearly scholarships. Scholarships are available for ABA members and non-members pursuing degrees in transportation, travel, tourism, and related industries.

The sections below allow you to explore our full range of scholarship offerings, requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Scholarship Opportunities for the Transportation, Travel, and Tourism Industries

Since its inception, the ABA Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in financial support to hundreds of scholars.

Learn more about each of our scholarship opportunities and requirements below. You can apply to as many scholarships as you’d like.

Transportation, travel, and tourism encompass various professions, from accounting to hospitality management and everything in between. We encourage you to apply—rather than rule yourself out because of your major.

View the 2024-2025 scholarship winners

ABA Member Scholarships

The ABA member scholarships are open to full-time employees or the dependents of full-time employees of ABA member companies (as of February 1, 2024). Seven ABA member scholarships, worth $5,000 each, are awarded.

  • You must be a full-time employee or the dependent of a full-time employee of an ABA member company in good standing.
  • The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA member company in good standing for at least one year as of January 1 of the year the scholarships are awarded and distributed.
  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university (4-year university/college or junior college).
  • You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries.

ABA Member Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarships

The ABA Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarships are open to full-time employees or the dependents of full-time employees of ABA bus and tour member companies (in good standing as of February 1, 2024). Seven Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarships are awarded, in the amount of $5,000 each.

  • You must be a full-time employee or the dependent of a full-time employee of an ABA member company in good standing.
  • The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA member company in good standing for at least one year as of January 1 of the year the scholarships are awarded and distributed.
  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university (4-year university/college or junior college).
  • You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You will be required to submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries.

Driving the Future Scholarship

The Driving the Future Scholarship is open to full-time employees or the dependents of full-time employees of ABA member companies (as of February 1, 2024). One Driving the Future Scholarship is awarded in the amount of $5,000.

  • You must be a full-time employee or the dependent of a full-time employee of an ABA motorcoach or tour member company in good standing.
  • The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA bus and tour member company for at least one year as of January 1 of the year the scholarships are awarded and distributed.
  • The winners or their parents or guardians must still be employed in the spring when the winners are selected and distributed.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

Academic Merit Scholarships

The Academic Merit Scholarships are open to both ABA and non-ABA members. Two $5,000 Scholarships are awarded each.

  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university (4-year university/college or junior college).
  • You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries.

Diversity Scholarships

Diversity scholarships are open to both ABA and non-ABA members. The diversity scholarships focus on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industries. Diversity scholarships are awarded for $5,000 each.

  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited University (4-year university/college or junior college).
  • You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the travel and tourism industry.
  • You must demonstrate your diversity (this includes varying cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, nationality, minorities, age, race, or ethnicity) to evaluators.
  • An impartial selection committee of educators ranks and chooses the winners. Winners are judged on their high academic achievement, character, leadership, financial need, and commitment to advancing the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
  • Applicants affiliated with ABA-member companies receive additional consideration.
  • Applicants must submit a 500-word essay discussing how they hope to advance the future of the transportation, motorcoach, travel, and tourism/hospitality industries.

Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship

The Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship is open to ABA members. This fund was established to recognize the contribution of bus drivers, mechanics, and maintenance personnel to the motorcoach industry. One Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship is awarded for $2,500.

  • You must be a bus driver, mechanic, or maintenance personnel of ABA Operator Members or their dependents.
  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student studying or planning to study at a technical school, trade school, or transportation-related program.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to transportation.

Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship

The Rob Cornell Memorial Scholarship is open to ABA members. It was established to recognize the contribution of American Bus Association companies’ employees and motorcoach operators. One scholarship of $2,500 is awarded.

  • You must be an ABA bus operator member or employee/dependent of employees of ABA member companies.
  • You must demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for this award.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

The Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is open to ABA and non-ABA members. It focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industries. One scholarship of $5,000 is awarded.

  • You must be a citizen or permanent United States or Canada resident.
  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student of a college, university, or professional training school in the fall of the upcoming year.
  • You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, or tourism industry.
  • You must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You must either:
    • Have a physical or sensory disability, as defined by the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act; or
    • Be a child of a wounded U.S. or Canadian military veteran; or
    • Be a veteran of the U.S. or Canadian military
  • You must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to the travel and tourism industry.

Previous American Bus Association Scholarship Winners

Hundreds of scholars have received ABA Foundation scholarships throughout the program’s history. See last year’s scholarship winners here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about our scholarships and the submission process, including:

  • How will I be notified about the status of my application?
  • What are the selection criteria?
  • When is the application deadline?
Find the answers to your questions!

ABA Foundation Scholarship History and Philosophy

The ABA Foundation Scholarship Program recognizes deserving students who demonstrate scholastic ability, leadership, character, diversity, and the potential to be future leaders in the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.

The ABA Foundation Scholarship Program was established in 1995 in honor of George T. Snyder, Jr., the President and CEO of ABA. Since his entire professional career was spent in the bus industry, his friends and family believed that a scholarship program would be an appropriate way to recognize and celebrate his life.

A large part of George Snyder’s deep and lifelong interest in the well-being of all people was his concern for their education and the opportunities for advancement it could bring.

Contact Us

If you have additional questions about ABA Foundation scholarship opportunities, please send us an email:

ContactUs@applyISTS.com (subject: AMBUS)

The American Bus Association serves a thriving industry that provides nearly 600 million passenger trips annually on charters, tours, scheduled service, and shuttles. Membership in ABA includes motorcoach operators, tour operators, tourism-related organizations, and products and service suppliers.

© 2011 - 2024 American Bus Association