Scholarships
The George T. Snyder, Jr., Scholarship Program
Philosophy
The George T. Snyder, Jr. Scholarships recognize deserving students who demonstrate scholastic ability, leadership, character, diversity, and the potential to be future leaders in the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
The American Bus Association Scholarship Program was established after the death in 1995 of George T. Snyder, Jr., who was the President and CEO of ABA. 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. 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 honor him and to celebrate his life.
The George T. Snyder, Jr. Scholarship program offers 6 types of scholarships:
- ABA Members Scholarship
- Driving The Future Award
- Academic Merit Scholarship
- Diversity Scholarship
- Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship
- Ron Cornell Honorary Scholarship
ABA Members Scholarship
13 Scholarships, Open to ABA Members Only @ $2,500 each
Eligibility
Bus & Tour Operator
- Eligible applicants are full-time employees or the dependent children of full-time employees of ABA bus and tour member companies (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).
ABA Member
- Eligible applicants are full-time employees or the dependent children of full-time employees of ABA member companies.
- 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).
***Special exception may be made for incumbent applicants who have received a first-year scholarship and then declared a field of study outside the industry-related curriculum if those candidates have proven financial hardship and demonstrated academic excellence.
Driving The Future Award
1 Scholarship, open to ABA Members and Partners @ $10,000
DRIVING THE FUTURE AWARD
- Eligible applicants are full-time employees or the dependent children of full-time employees in the motorcoach travel industry.
- The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA member company or a Strategic Partner Company of the ABA Foundation (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 have a minimum GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
Academic Merit Scholarship
2 Scholarships, open to ABA Members and Others @ $2,500 each
Eligibility
- This scholarship is open to both ABA and non ABA Members.
- The applicant must be a freshman, sophomore; junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited University (4-year university/college or junior college) and must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel and tourism industry and must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.
Diversity Scholarship
2 Scholarships, open to ABA Members @ $2,500 each
Eligibility
- This scholarship focuses on broadening the number of traditionally under represented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industry.
- Eligible candidates must have completed, at a minimum, their first year of college at an accredited university; must have a declared major or course of study relevant to the transportation, travel, and tourism industry; and must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
Diversity Scholarship Selection Process
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 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. Those applicants affiliated with ABA-member companies receive additional consideration to those who are not affiliated with ABA-members. All applicants are notified of the competition results in May. An impartial selection committee of educators is responsible for ranking and choosing the winners.
Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship
1 Scholarship, open to ABA Members @ $2,500
Eligibility
- This fund is established to recognize the contribution of bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance personnel to the motorcoach industry.
- Eligible applicants are bus drivers or maintenance personnel, or their children, of ABA operator members.
- Candidates must be in a technical school or accredited learning institutions with two-year or more transportation-related education programs.
- Applicants to the fund must demonstrate a financial need, maintain a 3.0 Grade Point Average and effectively demonstrate their desire and ability, to participate successfully in a learning program as described above.
Ron Cornell Honorary Scholarship
1 Scholarship, open to ABA Members @ $2,500
Eligibility
- The fund is established to recognize the contribution of ABC Companies employees and bus operators.
- Applicants must demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for this award.
- All applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Administration of Scholarships
Terms
For all scholarships, recipients must enroll as full-time undergraduates in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded. The scholarships will be applied to educational expenses at any accredited, nonprofit college or university in the United States or Canada, or at a school that offers programs related to the travel or tourism industry. A student may transfer from one college to another and retain the award. There is a new competition for these awards each year. Scholarship winners may reapply each year if the employee or the student's parents continue to be employed by ABA members. Winning a scholarship one year does not necessarily ensure that the recipient will win the following year, but preference is given to past winners.
Selection Process
Evaluators select winners based on their academic merit, extracurricular activities, and anticipated financial need. All applicants are notified of the competition results in June. An impartial selection committee of educators is responsible for ranking and choosing the winners.
Distribution of Funds
Winners are announced via online and printed publication and press release in June or July of the application year. Scholarship winners will receive a formal acceptance packets that include marketing release forms and guidelines for funds distribution. Checks are be mailed to each recipient's home address and are be made payable to the college or university only. Checks are be issued in August and December. Recipients must enroll as full-time undergraduates in the fall of the year in which the scholarships are awarded and continue in school for the entire academic year without interruption, barring illness, emergency, or military service. Scholarship recipients are responsible for making certain that their scholarship checks are delivered to the proper office at their college or university.
Apply for a Scholarship Online (JAN - APRIL ONLY)
Click here to apply. Once you have created an account you will be able to submit applications, as well as check the status of your applications and/or make any necessary changes (before the program deadline).
Questions
For additional information regarding the scholarship program contact:
Andrea Glass
Program Manager
aglass@applyists.com
Phone (615) 627-9686
Fax (615) 627-9693
