American Bus Association Scholarships

The American Bus Association Foundation offers scholarships across eight categories, awarding up to 21 scholarships each year. Scholarships are available for ABA members and non-members who are pursuing a degree in transportation, travel, tourism, and related industries.

Explore our full range of scholarship offerings, requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions through the sections below.

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 a varying range of professions from accounting to hospitality management and everything in between. We encourage you to apply—rather than ruling yourself out because of your major.

Get started on your journey: Apply TODAY

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, 2023). Seven ABA member scholarships are awarded, 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 that is 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.

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, 2023). 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 parent or guardian 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 Academic Merit Scholarships are awarded, in the amount of $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 transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
  • You must have a minimum GPA of 3.4 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.

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 industry. Diversity scholarships are awarded in the amount of $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 is responsible for ranking and choosing the winners. Winners are judged on their high level of 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 are required to submit a 500-word essay discussing the role they hope to play in advancing the future of the transportation, motorcoach, travel, and tourism/hospitality industry.

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 in the amount of $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 will be required to 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. The scholarship was established to recognize the contribution of American Bus Association companies’ employees and motorcoach operators. One scholarship is awarded in the amount of $2,500.

  • 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 both ABA and non-ABA members. This scholarship focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industries. One scholarship is awarded in the amount of $5,000.

  • 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 will be required to 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

Throughout the program’s history, hundreds of scholars have received ABA Foundation scholarships. 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 honor of George T. Snyder, Jr., the President and CEO of ABA, who passed in 1995. 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