American Bus Association Foundation Scholarships

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 immediately related to a full-time employee of an ABA member company. For the purposes of this program, “immediately related” refers to a mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister.

• 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 their immediately related family members (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister) 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

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 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

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 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 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 (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

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

• 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

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 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

The Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship is open to ABA members.

• 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.

Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship

The Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is open to ABA and non-ABA members.

• 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

When is the application deadline?

April 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST

What is the ABA Scholarship Program timeline?

• Application Open: December 2, 2025
• Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
• Notification of Selection Results: June 2026
• Funds Disbursed: August 2026

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.