ABA Foundation awards $58K in scholarships
This is the 16th year of the program, which has awarded over $600,000 in assistance to industry families.
In support of the next generation of motorcoach, tour and travel industry leaders, the American Bus Association (ABA) Foundation announced the George T. Snyder Jr., 2013-2014 scholarship winners.
This is the 16th year of the program, which has awarded over $600,000 in assistance to industry families. The ABA Foundation’s scholarship program was established in 1997 to honor George T. Snyder Jr., who passed away suddenly in 1995, after spending his life in the industry and serving as ABA’s president/CEO for nine years.
A significant focus of Snyder’s life was a deep and lifelong interest in the well-being of all people. He emphasized education and the opportunities for advancement it could bring.
“The ABA Foundation scholarship program is another example of the organization’s support for the industry, helping young men and women take the next step in their education and hopefully moving into leadership roles that support the motorcoach, travel and tour industry,” said ABA Foundation Chairman Doug Anderson.
Patrick Guarino, whose father works for New York Trailways, won the “Driving the Future” award, a $10,000 scholarship. Nineteen additional students will be presented with $2,500 awards in five categories.
The complete list of this year’s recipients, organized by category, is included below.
ABA Members
Bus and Tour Operators
Adam Thacker
Motor Coach Industries
Alisha Mathew
American Coach
Delaney McGuire
Motor Coach Industries
Ashley Penrod
Ozarks' Kirkwood Tour & Travel
Haley Young
Motor Coach Industries
Hanna Peterson
Prairie Coach Trailways
Megan Deremiah
Stay Sky Hotels and Resorts
Kristen Peterson
Concord Coach
Morgan Chappuis
DATTCO
Lindsay Dunphy
Target Tours
Olga Bogomolova
Coach USA-Northeast Region
Marissa Goebel
Lakefront Lines
Samuel Ross
Rendezvous Travel
Michaela Hoffer
Northfield Lines
Driving the Future
Diversity
Patrick Guarino
New York Trailways
Sailao Teekham
Prevost Car
Peter L. Picknelly
Academic Merit
Luciana Triolo
Academy
Dyan Baguio
Ron Cornell
E’Lisha Fogle
Katelyn Cummings
Peter Pan Bus Lines
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