American Bus Association Scholarships
The American Bus Association Foundation offers scholarships in eight categories, awarding up to 23 yearly scholarships. Scholarships are available for ABA members and non-members pursuing degrees in transportation, travel, tourism, and related industries.
ABAF Survivor Scholarship
The Survivor Scholarship is open to ABA and non-ABA members. It was established to provide financial assistance to survivors of human trafficking. One $5,000 scholarship is awarded.
- You must be a citizen or a permanent United States resident.
- You must submit a statement, no less than 1,000 words, as to how this scholarship will benefit you. Personal details are prohibited.
- You must provide contact information on two references from an agency, counselor, service provider, social worker, and/or employer who can vouch for your determination, strength, and potential.
- The scholarship can be used to support your livelihood, including but not limited to education, housing, food assistance, daycare services, treatment recovery, or rehabilitation needs.
- As a condition of accepting this scholarship, the selected recipient must agree to participate in brief check‑ins with American Bus Association (ABA) staff on a quarterly basis for one (1) year following the award. These check‑ins are intended to provide supportive touchpoints, allow the program to understand the recipient’s progress, and help ensure the scholarship continues to meet the recipient’s needs.
- The ABA Foundation reserves the right to post the scholarship winner’s name, in whole or in part, on its website, social media accounts, annual events, or in a press release. Permission to share the names of scholarship winners will be requested from all applicants. Denial of the request will not affect the application decision.
(Note: this is a separate scholarship offering from the ABAF’s academic offerings; it will not show up in the general scholarship list on the application site. Use this link to apply for this opportunity.)
The sections below allow you to explore our full range of scholarship offerings, requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions.
- Scholarship opportunities overview
- ABA member scholarships
- ABA member motorcoach and tour operator scholarships
- Driving the Future Scholarship
- Academic merit scholarships
- Diversity scholarships
- Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship
- Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship
- Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship
- Frequently asked questions
- History and philosophy
- Contact us
Applications for the 2026 scholarship awards are open from December 2, 2025 through April 30, 2026.
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 various professions, from accounting to hospitality management and everything in between. We encourage you to apply—rather than rule yourself out because of your major.
To apply for the American Bus Association Foundation Scholarship, please follow the instructions below:
- Go to https://aim.applyISTS.net/AMBUS
- If you have an existing ISTS account, simply log in.
- To create a new account, click “Don’t have an account? Register!” to create an ISTS account. You will be prompted to validate your email address and taken to your ISTS homepage.
- Click “Add New Application,” enter the Program Key: AMBUS and click “Okay.” You will be immediately directed to the application form.
- Complete all required fields, upload your required documents, and Submit your application no later than April 30, 2026.
If you need assistance at any point during the process, please reach out to the ISTS Program Support Team via email at ContactUs@applyISTS.com or click the green help widget on your application to live chat with a representative during normal business hours (M-F 7 AM – 7 PM CST & Saturdays 9 AM – 6 PM CST).
ABA Member Scholarships
ABA member scholarships are open to full-time employees or the dependents of full-time employees of ABA member companies. Seven ABA member scholarships, worth $5,000 each, are awarded.
- 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 (four-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 must 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
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. ABA awards seven of these scholarships annually, 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 (four-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. One Driving the Future Scholarship is awarded annually 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 parents or guardians 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
Academic merit scholarships are open to both ABA and non-ABA members. Two $5,000 scholarships are awarded.
- You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited university (four-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 must 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 industries. One diversity scholarship is awarded for $5,000.
- You must be a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at an accredited University (four-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 ranks and chooses the winners. Winners are judged on their high 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 must submit a 500-word essay discussing how they hope to advance the future of the transportation, motorcoach, travel, and tourism/hospitality industries.
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 for $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 must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to transportation.
Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship
The Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship is open to ABA members. It was established to recognize the contribution of American Bus Association companies’ employees and motorcoach operators. One scholarship of $2,500 is awarded.
- 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 (Celebrating 30 Years)
The Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is open to ABA and non-ABA members. It focuses on broadening the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in the management and operation ranks of the transportation, travel, and tourism industries. One scholarship of $5,000 is awarded.
- 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 must submit a short essay on how your major or course of study is relevant to the travel and tourism industry.
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?
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 1995 in honor of George T. Snyder, Jr., the President and CEO of ABA. 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)