American Bus Association Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by American Bus Association

The ABA Foundation supports students who plan to work in the motorcoach, travel, and tourism industries. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to deserving students. Below I’ve organized the program so you can quickly see which scholarships exist, who can apply, and what paperwork is required.

Quick overview — common threads
- Most scholarships are open to students who will be enrolled full time in the fall (freshmen through graduate students).
- Several scholarships require a parent or applicant to be a full-time employee of an ABA member company (in good standing) for at least one year as of January 1 of the award year and to remain employed in the spring when winners are selected.
- GPA requirements vary by scholarship (see each listing).
- Some scholarships are open to non-members; others are restricted to ABA member employees or their dependents.

Scholarships and eligibility

1) ABA Member Scholarship
- Who may apply: full-time employee of an ABA member company or the dependent child of such an employee.
- Employment requirement: employee must have been employed at least one year as of January 1 of the award year and must still be employed in the spring when winners are selected.
- Student requirement: freshman–graduate student with a declared major relevant to transportation, travel, or tourism.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 (B average).

2) Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarship
- Who may apply: full-time employee or dependent of a full-time employee of an ABA bus or tour member company (in good standing).
- Employment requirement: at least one year as of January 1 and still employed in the spring when winners are selected.
- Student requirement: freshman–graduate student at college, university, or professional training school.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0.

3) Driving the Future Scholarship
- Who may apply: full-time employee or dependent of a full-time employee in the motorcoach travel industry (employee must be with an ABA member company in good standing).
- Employment requirement: at least one year as of January 1 and still employed in the spring when winners are selected.
- Minimum GPA: 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

4) Academic Merit Scholarship (open to ABA and non-ABA members)
- Who may apply: students enrolled at an accredited college, university, or junior college (freshman–graduate).
- Major: must be relevant to transportation, travel, or tourism.
- Minimum GPA: 3.4 cumulative.

5) Diversity Scholarship (open to ABA and non-ABA members)
- Purpose: broaden representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in management and operations of the travel and tourism industry.
- Who may apply: freshmen–graduate students at accredited universities.
- Major: relevant to travel and tourism.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative on a 4.0 scale.

6) Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship
- Purpose: honors contributions of bus drivers, mechanics, and maintenance personnel.
- Who may apply: bus drivers, mechanics, maintenance personnel of ABA operator members or their dependent children.
- Student requirement: freshman–graduate student planning to study at a technical/trade school or in a transportation-related program.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative.

7) Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship
- Purpose: recognizes contributions of motorcoach manufacturers and operators.
- Who may apply: full-time employees or dependent children of full-time employees of the ABC Companies or an ABA bus/motorcoach operator company in good standing.
- Additional requirement: applicants must demonstrate financial need.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

8) Yellow Ribbon Scholarship (open to ABA and non-ABA members)
- Purpose: increase representation of underrepresented groups in travel and tourism management and operations; includes specific supports for veterans, children of wounded veterans, and applicants with disabilities.
- Who may apply: students (freshman–graduate) at college, university, or professional training school in the upcoming fall.
- Major: must be relevant to travel and tourism.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 cumulative on a 4.0 scale.
- Citizenship: must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Additional eligibility (one of the following):
- physical or sensory disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990); or
- child of a wounded U.S. or Canadian military veteran; or
- veteran of the U.S. or Canadian military.
- Note: select Yellow Ribbon applicants must submit medical or military documentation as required.

Required supporting documents (by applicant type)
- High school transcript / secondary school record: college freshmen and some college sophomores.
- College/university transcript: college sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
- FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR): all U.S. applicants.
- Canadian T1 Tax Form: all Canadian applicants.
- Medical verification form: required for certain Yellow Ribbon applicants with disabilities.
- Military documentation: required for Yellow Ribbon applicants who are veterans or children of wounded veterans.

Final notes (teacher-to-student)
- Read each scholarship’s eligibility carefully before applying; many require both an employment/relationship condition and a minimum GPA.
- If you’re unsure which documents to submit, start by gathering transcripts and your FAFSA or T1 tax form, then check the Yellow Ribbon requirements if they might apply to you.
- If you want, I can help you figure out which scholarship you’re eligible for based on your employment/family status, major, GPA, and citizenship.