Recent Scholarship Winners

Congratulations to the ABA Foundation Scholarship Recipients!

Each year, the ABA Foundation awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to ABA member employees, their dependents, and future industry leaders. Since its inception, the ABAF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to more than 300 students.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 scholarship winners and thank you to all our supporters and donors who make this program possible.

Learn more about the ABAF Scholarship Program and how to apply on our scholarships page.

ABA Member Scholarship

Lilly Coate

ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: New York University
Major of study: Media and Communications

Delphine Demaisy

ABA Member Org: Prevost
School: College of the Atlantic
Major of study: Human Ecology- Focus in Marine Science

Savannah Ichikawa

ABA Member Org: Gaylord Opryland
School: University of Alabama
Major of study: Hospitality Management

Mason McMullen

ABA Member Org: Avid Hotels
School: University of Tennessee
Major of study: Architecture

Jessica Valatka

ABA Member Org: House of Seven Gables
School: University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Major of study: Substantiality and Urban Design

Sylvain Yang

ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: University of the Incarnate Word
Major of study: Business

Emily Young

ABA Member Org: Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum
School: Wilson College
Major of study: Animal Studies

ABA Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarship

Raymond Geissler

ABA Member Org: Kaleidoscope Adventures
School: University of Akron
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering

Sophia Grueninger

ABA Member Org: Grueninger Cruises & Tours
School: DePauw University
Major of study: Global Health

Kaitlyn Henry

ABA Member Org: Concord Coachlines
School: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Major of study: Computer Science

Erica Jewell

ABA Member Org: Miller Transportation
School: Spalding University
Major of study: Nursing

Jacob Julian

ABA Member Org: Jane’s Journeys LLP
School: University of Kentucky
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering

Anessa Saucedo

ABA Member Org: Carreras Tours LLC
School: California State University- Fullerton
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering

Alena Strassburg

ABA Member Org: Lamers Bus Lines
School: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Major of study: Physical Therapy Assistant/Aide

Academic Merit Scholarships

Tyler Kleinsasser

School: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Major of study: Business Management

Emily Zirbes

School: Iowa State University
Major of study: Hospitality Management

Driving the Future Scholarship

Heather Li

ABA Member Org: TEMSA North America
School: University of Florida
Major of study: Marketing

Diversity Scholarship

Lavender Yang

ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: Kansas City Art Institute
Major of study: Graphic Design and Animation

Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship

Denise Loke

ABA Member Org: Corinthian Transportation
School: California State University- East Bay
Major of study: Nursing

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

Olivia McMahon

School: Trinity College- Dublin
Major of study: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

2023-2024 ABA Foundation Scholarship Winners

ABA Member Scholarship

Tanner Carson

ABA Member Org: Visit Goodlettsville/City of Goodlettsville
School: Vanderbilt University
Major of study: Pre-Law

Yevgeny Dedun

ABA Member Org: Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
School: University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
Major of study: Business

Sophie Demaisy

ABA Member Org: Prevost
School: Connecticut College
Major of study: Botany

Mason McMullen

ABA Member Org: Avid Nashville Smyrna
School: University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Major of study: Architecture

Kendall Pederson

ABA Member Org: Odawa Casino
School: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Major of study: Economics

Lavender Yang

ABA Member Org: State of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
School: Kansas City Art Institute
Major of study: Game Modelling & Design

Sylvain Yang

ABA Member Org: State of Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
School: University of the Incarnate Word
Major of study: Hospitality Industry

ABA Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarship

Jillian Croft

ABA Member Org: Klein Transportation
School: Lebanon Valley College
Major of study: Communications

Abagail Geesling

ABA Member Org: Village Travel
School: Fort Hays State University
Major of study: Tourism & Hospitality Management

Katie Jackson

ABA Member Org: Country Travel Discoveries
School: University of Missouri – Columbia
Major of study: Information Technology

Erica Jewel

ABA Member Org: Miller Transportation
School: Spalding University
Major of study: Sports Medicine/Management/Technology

Gary Kozikowski

ABA Member Org: Destinations Unlimited
School: University of New Haven
Major of study: Engineering

Audra Lininger

ABA Member Org: Anderson Coach & Travel
School: Kent State University
Major of study: Hospitality Industry

Alena Strassburg

ABA Member Org: Lamers Bus Lines
School: University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Major of study: Occupational Therapy Assistant

Academic Merit Scholarships

Tyler Kleinsasser

School: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Major of study: Business Management

Emily Zirbes

School: Iowa State University
Major of study: Hospitality Industry

Diversity Scholarship

Oforiwaa Pee Agyei-Boakye

School: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Major of study: Transportation Logistics

Driving the Future Scholarship

Hadi Zulfiqur

ABA Member Org: Academy Bus LLC
School: Thomas Jefferson University
Major of study: Finance

Peter L Picknelly Honorary Scholarship

Bryan Lininger

ABA Member Org: Anderson Coach & Travel
School: University of Akron
Major of study: Accounting

Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship

Kassidy Gagnon

ABA Member Org: DATTCO, Inc.
School: Providence College
Major of study: Political Science

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

Stephanie Goedde

ABA Member Org: ABC Companies
School: The University of Tampa
Major of study: Business