The American Bus Association Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarship Winners
The American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF), the largest non-profit organization in the group travel industry dedicated to research and scholarships, is thrilled to announce the 2024 ABAF Scholarship Program recipients.
Each year, the ABA Foundation awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to over 20 exceptional college students who are either employees or dependents of employees at ABA member companies or are pursuing studies in the travel and tourism field.
“We are incredibly proud to support the future leaders of the travel and tourism industry through our scholarship program,” said ABA Foundation President Fred Ferguson. “These talented students represent the next generation of innovators and professionals who will drive our industry forward. By investing in their education, the American Bus Association Foundation is investing in the future of group travel and tourism.”
The ABA Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in financial support to more than 300 scholars since the program began in 1995. The ABA Foundation Scholarship Program is generously funded by contributions from ABA members throughout the year, especially during ABA’s Marketplace through events such as the Foundation’s Silent Auction, Purse & Accessories Raffle, and the Afterglow party, sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe International and Prevost.
Congratulations to the 2024 scholarship winners and thank you to all our supporters and donors who make this program possible.
ABA Member Scholarship
Sylvain Yang
ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: University of the Incarnate Word
Major of study: Business
Lilly Coate
ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: New York University
Major of study: Media and Communications
Mason McMullen
ABA Member Org: Avid Hotels
School: University of Tennessee
Major of study: Architecture
Savannah Ichikawa
ABA Member Org: Gaylord Opryland
School: University of Alabama
Major of study: Hospitality Management
Delphine Demaisy
ABA Member Org: Prevost
School: College of the Atlantic
Major of study: Human Ecology- Focus in Marine Science
Jessica Valatka
ABA Member Org: House of Seven Gables
School: University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Major of study: Substantiality and Urban Design
Emily Young
ABA Member Org: Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum
School: Wilson College
Major of study: Animal Studies
ABA Bus & Tour Operator Scholarship
Jacob Julian
ABA Member Org: Jane’s Journeys LLP
School: University of Kentucky
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering
Sophia Grueninger
ABA Member Org: Grueninger Cruises & Tours
School: DePauw University
Major of study: Global Health
Anessa Saucedo
ABA Member Org: Carreras Tours LLC
School: California State University- Fullerton
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering
Erica Jewell
ABA Member Org: Miller Transportation
School: Spalding University
Major of study: Nursing
Alena Strassburg
ABA Member Org: Lamers Bus Lines
School: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Major of study: Physical Therapy Assistant/Aide
Kaitlyn Henry
ABA Member Org: Concord Coachlines
School: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Major of study: Computer Science
Raymond Geissler
ABA Member Org: Kaleidoscope Adventures
School: University of Akron
Major of study: Mechanical Engineering
Academic Merit Scholarships
Emily Zirbes
School: Iowa State University
Major of study: Hospitality Management
Tyler Kleinsasser
School: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Major of study: Business Management
Diversity Scholarship
Lavender Yang
ABA Member Org: Travel Oklahoma
School: Kansas City Art Institute
Major of study: Graphic Design and Animation
Driving the Future Scholarship
Heather Li
ABA Member Org: TEMSA North America
School: University of Florida
Major of study: Marketing
Ron Cornell Memorial Scholarship
Denise Loke
ABA Member Org: Corinthian Transportation
School: California State University- East Bay
Major of study: Nursing
Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship
Olivia McMahon
School: Trintiy College- Dublin
Major of study: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
About the American Bus Association
The American Bus Association is the oldest, largest, and most respected voice of North America’s motorcoach, tour, and travel industry. The ABA represents thousands of motorcoach and tour companies and is dedicated to advancing the industry through advocacy, education, and innovation.
About the American Bus Association Foundation
The American Bus Association Foundation (ABAF), the philanthropic arm of the American Bus Association, is dedicated to advancing the motorcoach, travel, and tourism industry through research and education. The Foundation’s mission is to support the motorcoach travel and tour industry with research and scholarships that benefit the ABA, policymakers, and the public. The ABA Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in financial support to more than 300 scholars since the program began after the passing of then ABA President and CEO George T. Snyder Jr. in 1995. Our scholarship programs help ABA members and the public earn degrees that support the motorcoach travel and tour industry, as well as promote academic excellence and diversity.
For more information about the ABA Foundation and its scholarship program, please visit www.buses.org/aba-foundation.
