ABA Foundation Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions | American Bus Association

ABA Foundation Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

The sections below provide full background on the scholarship program and answers to frequently asked questions:

Program Overview

Who is eligible to apply?

The ABA Foundation Scholarship Program offers eight scholarship categories: ABA Member Scholarship, Motorcoach and Tour Scholarship, Academic Merit Scholarship, Driving the Future Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship, the Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship, the Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship, and the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship.

Eligibility for each ABA Foundation Scholarship program varies as listed:

ABA Member Scholarships

ABA member scholarships are open to full-time employees or the dependents of full-time employees of ABA member companies (as of February 1, 2025). 

  • 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 (four-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.

Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarships

ABA Motorcoach and 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, 2025). 

  • 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 (four-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, 2025). 

  • 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

Academic merit scholarships are open to both ABA and non-ABA members.

  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university (four-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 Scholarship

Diversity scholarships are open to both ABA and non-ABA members. 

  • You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited University (four-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. 

  • 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 Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship is open to ABA members.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

When is the application deadline? 

April 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST

What is the ABA Scholarship Program timeline?

  • Application Open: December 2, 2024
  • Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
  • Notification of Selection Results: July 2025
  • Acceptance Deadline: July 30, 2025
  • Funds Disbursed: August 2025

Is this award renewable?

No. The scholarships are not renewable.

Who administers this program?

To ensure complete impartiality in the selection of recipients and to maintain a high level of professionalism and security, the program is administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent company that specializes in managing sponsored educational assistance programs.

Application Details

Which school should I list on the application if I have not made a final decision?

You should list your first-choice school on the application. You can change your college choice any time prior to the application deadline. If selected as a recipient, you will be asked to confirm your final school choice. If your school changes after the acceptance deadline, you will be able to update this information on your My Profile page.

My parent’s employment makes me eligible for this scholarship. Whose contact information should I include?

You, the applicant, must register for an account with a personal email address. Do not use a parent’s work email address. Your My Profile page should reflect your legal name and contact information. If your parent’s information is needed, it will be specifically asked for on the application.

What are the differences between official and unofficial transcripts?

Official transcripts must be obtained through your high school administration office, or your college registrar office. Transcripts are normally printed on official letterhead and/or state that they are official. Transcripts may contain or require a signature.

Note: Your official transcript may come to you in a sealed envelope, stating it will become unofficial if opened. When scanning or copying your official transcripts, a watermark may appear noting that they are now unofficial. Despite any watermarks or sealed envelopes, you may open the envelope if needed to upload the document. These documents will be considered official for our purposes. Acceptable file types are .pdf, .tif, .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .bmp and .xps. When scanning or copying, you do not need to include a copy of the sealed envelope.

Unofficial transcripts may be accessed through your school’s online student portal. These pages must be converted to one of the acceptable file formats. Unofficial transcripts must contain your name.

What supporting documentation is required for this application?

  • High School Transcript/Secondary School Record: College Freshman and Sophomores only.
  • College/University Transcript: College Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.
  • Current year FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR): All U.S. applicants
  • Canadian T1 Tax Form: All Canadian applicants
  • Medical Verification Form: select Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship applicants only
  • Military Documentation: select Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship applicants only

Where and when should I send my supporting documents?

All required supporting documents must be uploaded to your online application by the application deadline. If you do not follow the upload instructions exactly, your application may remain incomplete. Documents that meet the criteria required for this application that are uploaded by the deadline will be processed and considered on time.

Upload FAQs

What should be visible on my documents?

All uploaded documents must include your name. If you are using an online portal to access your required documentation and all that is visible is the salutation and your first name (Example: Welcome Joe!), this will meet the name requirement.

What are the acceptable file types?

The only acceptable file types are .pdf, .tif, .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .bmp and .xps. Any other formats will not be reviewed, and your application will remain incomplete. You may upload multiple files within a .zip file. All files within a .zip file must be in one of the acceptable file types listed above.

Why can’t I upload a Word document?

ISTS does not accept any file format that is editable.

One of the documents I uploaded has a status of Rejected. What do I do now?

Review the reason your document was rejected. Once you have corrected that issue, upload a new copy of your document.

How do I upload more than one file at a time?

You may create a .zip file containing more than one file as long as everything included is in an acceptable file type of .pdf, .tif, .png, .jpeg, .jpg, .bmp, and .xps. Do not upload additional documentation that is not requested. It will not be reviewed.

How do I create a .zip file?

To use this format, follow the steps outlined below:

  1. Create a new folder on your Desktop, name it the document type you will be uploading. For example, Test Scores, Transcript, or Financial Documentation.
  2. Move all the files you wish to upload into the new folder.
  3. Right-click on the folder from your Desktop:
    1. PC Users: select “Send to,” followed by “Compressed (zipped) folder.”
    2. Mac Users: select “Compress [folder name].”
  4. Your new .zip file will be located on your Desktop, ready to upload.

How long does it take to process my uploaded documents?

Documents are processed daily. Your document will be processed within one (1) business day. If your document was uploaded prior to the deadline, it will be considered. However, it is your responsibility to monitor your Home page to ensure your document is Accepted.

The deadline has passed, and my documents are still Processing, what does that mean?

All documents must be reviewed for the required information and for accuracy. All documents uploaded prior to the application deadline will be reviewed and considered. It is your responsibility to monitor your Home page to ensure your document is Accepted, and that your application status reads Complete.

What are the DOs and DON’Ts of uploading documents to my application?

DO:

  • Upload one of the accepted file types.
  • Only upload the requested and required documents.
  • Black out any Social Security Numbers. This is not required, but highly advised.
  • Return to your Home page to verify your documents have been Accepted.

DON’T:

  • Upload a Microsoft® Word document (.doc, .docx) or any other format we don’t accept.
  • Upload more than the requested documentation.
  • Assume your documents are correct and accepted once you have uploaded them.
  • Upload a document stating you are mailing your documents.
  • Assume the required document does not pertain to you. If the application states the document is required, your application will remain incomplete if you do not provide that document. Contact us if you are having trouble providing a required document.
  • Password protect your uploaded documents. Password-protected documents will be rejected.
  • Upload any file that has a viewing expiration date.

Notifications

How will I be notified about the status of my application?

Notifications are sent primarily via email to the email you used to create your account. Some programs offer text and voice notifications. Ultimately, it is your responsibility as the applicant to verify your application status on your Home page is Complete.

What notifications will be sent to me?

  • Deadline Reminders: Deadline reminder emails typically begin 30-45 days prior to the application deadline.
  • Selection Results: Selection results notifications are sent to all Complete applicants.
  • Funds Disbursed: Once your funds have been issued, you will be notified.
  • Other Scholarships: Occasionally, if you meet the requirements for another scholarship administered by ISTS, you will be notified. These notifications are not guaranteed.

Your information is never sold to any third party for marketing purposes.

Who will notifications be sent from?

You will receive notifications from two (2) possible ISTS email addresses: donotreply@applyISTS.com and contactus@applyISTS.com. You should add both of these email addresses to your “safe senders list” to ensure important emails are not sent to your spam or junk folder.

When will I receive notifications?

Notifications vary by program based on the Program timeline. Refer to the Program timeline listed above for more specific information. Typically, deadline reminders begin 30-45 days prior to the application deadline.

Can I opt out of notifications?

While you can opt out of notifications, this is not advised. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure your application is Complete. If you opt out of notifications, you will not receive deadline reminders or selection results. Your information is never sold to any third party. The only emails you will receive from ISTS are directly related to your application and, possibly, other scholarship opportunities.

Award Details

What are the scholarships’ selection criteria?

An independent selection committee will evaluate the Complete applications and select recipients considering:

ABA member scholarships

  • Academic merit
  • Community service
  • Extracurricular and leadership activities
  • Anticipated financial need

Motorcoach & tour operator scholarships

  • Academic merit
  • Community service
  • Extracurricular and leadership activities
  • Anticipated financial need

Driving the Future Scholarship

  • Academic merit
  • Community service
  • Extracurricular and leadership activities
  • Anticipated financial need

Academic merit scholarships

  • High level of academic achievement
  • Character and leadership qualities
  • Financial need
  • Commitment to advancing the transportation, travel, and tourism industry
  • Those applicants affiliated with ABA member companies will receive additional consideration to those who are not affiliated with ABA members

Diversity scholarships

  • Academic merit
  • Character and leadership qualities
  • Financial need
  • Dedication to advancing the transportation, travel, and tourism industry
  • Essay to demonstrate your diversity (varying cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, nationality, minorities, age, race, or ethnicity) to evaluators. The ABA Foundation recognizes diversity is essential to promote understanding and mobilize greater involvement in our industry
  • Those applicants affiliated with ABA member companies will receive additional consideration to those who are not affiliated with ABA members

Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship

  • Academic merit
  • Character and leadership qualities
  • Financial need

Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship

  • Academic merit
  • Character and leadership qualities
  • Financial need

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

  • Program criterion
  • Academic merit
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Financial need
  • Essay on your life experience and, if applicable, your relationship with your qualifying family member
  • Those applicants affiliated with ABA member companies will receive additional consideration to those who are not affiliated with ABA members

Decisions of the selection committee are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.

What are the details of the award?

  • Up to 21 scholarships will be awarded annually and are not renewable.
  • Students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • The award amount for the ABA Member Scholarship, Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarship, Driving the Future Scholarship, Academic Merit Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship, and Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is $5,000 each. The award amount for the Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship and Peter Picknelly Honorary Scholarship is $2,500.
  • Award amounts listed are for the full academic year, with half for the fall semester and half for the spring semester. Scholarship amounts will be decreased if a recipient is enrolled for only one semester.
  • The scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for course load.
  • Institutions must be accredited, nonprofit two or four-year colleges/universities in the U.S. or Canada.
  • A student may transfer from one institution to another and retain the award.
  • Scholarships may not be applied to room and board and cannot be used to purchase a laptop if not required for all students attending the institution or course.

What are my responsibilities if I am chosen as a recipient?

You must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded. You must continue the entire academic year without interruption unless approved by the scholarship sponsor. You are responsible for delivering your scholarship check(s) to the proper office at your institution with its attached instructions.

You should notify ISTS should your check not arrive within 30 days of the issue date. You will receive an email notification when your funds are issued.

How and when are funds issued?

Your funds will be issued via one (1) check in early August. Your check will be made payable to your institution listed on your My Profile page only. Your scholarship check cannot be made payable to you, the applicant. The check will be mailed to your home address so that you may deliver it to the correct office at your institution. You will receive an email notification once your funds have been issued.

How do I change my college choice?

Make sure your My Profile page indicates your final college choice. It is your responsibility to make sure your My Profile page is correct at least 30 days prior to the check issue date listed above. If your scholarship check needs to be reissued for any reason, a reissue fee may apply.

Other Important Information

Are scholarships taxable?

Tax laws vary by country. In the United States, scholarship funds used exclusively for the payment of tuition and textbooks are normally not taxable. The scholarship recipient is responsible for taxes, if any, that may be assessed against his or her scholarship award. We recommend consulting your tax adviser for more guidance. You may also consult IRS Publication 970 for additional information.

ISTS Self-Help Portal

https://istsprogramsupport.com/For more helpful information about scholarships plus answers to common inquiries related to ISTS’ technology and processes, visit its self-help portal at ISTSprogramsupport.com.

ISTS Contact Information

ISTS office hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM Central, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Central Time. Agents are available via live chat and email during these hours. Use the green Help button at the bottom right corner of your screen to contact ISTS. 

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.

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