ABA Foundation names scholarship winners

The American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF) announced its scholarship award winners for the 2010-2011 academic year, with 19 students each receiving $2,500 scholarships, amounting to nearly $400,000 awarded over the ABAF's 13-year history.

"The support and generosity of the members has continued to boost the efforts of the educational programs that help to prepare our leaders for tomorrow," said ABA Foundation Board of Governors Chairman Doug Anderson. "These scholarships are an investment in cultivating our industry's next generation, and come at a critical time when each of us, in every ABA member segment, is aware of the vital need to have a part in transportation planning for today, tomorrow, and the decades that lie ahead."

ABA Foundation Scholarships are designed to create opportunities for young adults interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality, motorcoach, tour and travel fields.

The Foundation also sponsors groundbreaking research to show the value of the motorcoach community to society, including how its presence in so many communities across the country binds the nation together, promotes environmental travel and infuses tourism dollars into the economy at every destination a group tour visits via motorcoach.

2010-2011 scholarship winners by category are:

• ABA Operators Scholarships:

Gretchen Peterson - Prairie Coach Trailways

Ari-Tzvi Marks - Fantastic Tours & Travel

Cassandra Aragona - Adirondack Transit Lines Inc.

Whitney Smith - Lighthouse Travel & Tours Inc.

Shelby Demke - DATTCO

Stephen Fox - Fox Bus Lines, Inc.

Mellisa Dolly - Starr Transit Company, Inc.

• ABA Members Scholarships:

Haley Young - Motor Coach Industries

Jesse Carlstrom - Alaska Travel Industry Association

Kayla Aucoin - Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau

Matthew Wywial - Coach Canada

Sydney Lindell - Tampa Bay Company

Michael Slott - Mobileview Technologies

• Academic Merit Scholarships:

Mary Gibson and Candice Randall

• Diversity Award:

Robert Hawk and Lauren Vala

• Peter Picknelly Honorary Scholarship:

Dilan Webb - Viking Lines

• Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship:

Rachel Ganzer - Motor Coach Industries