American Bus Association Foundation Scholarships

The American Bus Association Foundation promotes academic excellence and diversity in the motorcoach travel and tour industry through its scholarship program. The ABA Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in financial support to hundreds of scholars since its inception.

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 Yellow Ribbon Scholarship.

Eligibility for each ABA Foundation Scholarship program varies as listed:

ABA Member Scholarships

• You must be a full-time employee or the dependent child of a full-time employee of an ABA member company.
• The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA member company (in good standing) for at least one year as of January 1 in the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
• The winners or the parents of the winners must still be employed in the spring when the winners are selected.

The applicant must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student, and must have a declared major or course of study that is relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industries and maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (B Average).

Motorcoach & Tour Operator Scholarships

• You must be a full-time employee or the dependent child of a full-time employee of an ABA bus or tour member company in good standing.
• The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA bus or tour member company for at least one year as of January 1 in the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
• The winners or the parents of the winners must still be employed in the spring when the winners are selected.

The applicant must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student of college, university or professional training school in the fall and hold a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (B Average).

Driving the Future Scholarship

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

Academic Merit Scholarship

This scholarship is open to both ABA and Non-ABA Members.

• 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 cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.

Diversity Scholarship

This 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 industry.

• You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student of college at an accredited University.
• You must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the travel and tourism industry.
• You must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes the contribution of bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance personnel to the motorcoach industry.

• You must be a bus driver, mechanic or maintenance personnel of ABA Operator Members or their dependent children.
• You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student studying or planning to study at a technical school, trade school or in a transportation-related program.
• You must have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship recognizes the contributions of both motorcoach manufacturers and operators.

• You must be a full-time employee or the dependent child of a full-time employee of the ABC Companies or an ABA bus/motorcoach operator company in good standing.
• You must demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for this award.
• You must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

This 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 industry.

• You must have attained cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 Scale.
• You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student of 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 travel and tourism industry.
• You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada.
• 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

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.
• FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR): All U.S. applicants
• Canadian T1 Tax Form: All Canadian applicants
• Medical Verification Form: select Yellow Ribbon Scholarship applicants only
• Military Documentation: select Yellow Ribbon Scholarship applicants only