American Bus Association Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by American Bus Association

Overview
The ABA Foundation Scholarship Program funds students across eight named award tracks: ABA Member Scholarship; Motorcoach & Tour Scholarship; Academic Merit Scholarship; Driving the Future Scholarship; Diversity Scholarship; Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship; Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship; and the Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship. Eligibility rules differ by award — see each category below for specific requirements.

Important dates
- Application opens: December 2, 2025
- Application deadline: April 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PST
- Selection notifications: June 2026
- Award funds issued: August 2026

General notes
- Membership status referenced in some categories is measured as of February 1, 2025.
- For awards that require employment by an ABA member company, the eligible employee must have been employed for at least one year as of January 1 in the award year.
- Scholarships are one-time awards and are not renewable.
- The program is administered by International Scholarship & Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS) to ensure impartial selection and professional management.

Scholarship categories and eligibility

1) ABA Member Scholarship
- Who may apply: Full-time employees of ABA member companies (in good standing as of February 1, 2025) or their immediate relatives. “Immediate relative” for this award includes mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister.
- Employment requirement: The eligible employee must have been employed by an ABA member company for at least one year as of January 1 in the award year.
- Continued employment: The winning employee or the immediately related family member must still be employed in the spring when recipients are selected.
- Student status and academics: Applicants must be enrolled (or accepted) as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student with a declared major tied to transportation, travel, or tourism, and must hold at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (B average).

2) Motorcoach & Tour Scholarship
- Who may apply: Full-time employees or dependent children of full-time employees who work for ABA bus and tour member companies that were in good standing as of February 1, 2025.
- Employment requirement: The eligible employee must have one year of service with the ABA bus or tour member company as of January 1 in the award year.
- Continued employment: Winners (or their parents) must still be employed in the spring when recipients are chosen.
- Student status and academics: Applicants should be entering or enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate student at a college, university, or professional training school and must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

3) Driving the Future Scholarship
- Who may apply: Full-time employees or dependent children of full-time employees in the motorcoach travel industry employed by ABA member companies (member status measured as of February 1, 2025).
- Employment requirement: Eligible employees must have been with an ABA member company in good standing for at least one year as of January 1 in the award year.
- Continued employment: Winners (or their parents) must still be employed in the spring selection period.
- Student status and academics: Applicants must meet a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.

4) Academic Merit Scholarship
- Who may apply: Open to students regardless of ABA membership.
- Student status: Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate students enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college/university or junior college.
- Field of study: Must have a declared major related to transportation, travel, or tourism.
- Academic minimum: Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher.

5) Diversity Scholarship
- Who may apply: Open to students whether or not they are ABA members.
- Student status: Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate students at an accredited university.
- Field of study: Declared major connected to the travel and tourism industry.
- Academic minimum: Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

6) Peter L. Picknelly Honorary Scholarship
- Who may apply: Available to ABA members. Eligible applicants include bus drivers, mechanics, or maintenance personnel employed by ABA operator members, or their dependent children.
- Student status and training: Applicants should be freshman through graduate-level students planning to study at a technical or trade school or in a transportation-related program.
- Academic minimum: Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

7) Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship
- Who may apply: Limited to full-time employees (or dependent children of full-time employees) of the ABC Companies or an ABA bus/motorcoach operator company that is in good standing.
- Financial need: Demonstrated financial need is a requirement for eligibility.
- Academic minimum: Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

8) Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship
- Who may apply: Open to both ABA and non-ABA applicants.
- Student status: Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, or graduate students enrolled in college, university, or professional training school in the upcoming fall.
- Field of study: Declared major relevant to the travel and tourism industry.
- Academic minimum: Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Residency: Must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada.
- Additional eligibility (one of the following is required):
- A physical or sensory disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; or
- Be the child of a wounded U.S. or Canadian military veteran; or
- Be a veteran of the U.S. or Canadian military.

How the program is administered
To preserve neutrality and professional oversight, the ABA Foundation Scholarship Program is managed by International Scholarship & Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent organization that operates sponsored educational assistance programs.

If you’d like, I can convert this into a downloadable version or create a checklist for a specific scholarship category to help you prepare your application.