The Road Scholarship Program: 5 Questions with Barbara McCormack

October 9, 2019

Established by the SYTA Youth Foundation in 2002, the Road Scholarship program awards funds to youth unable to afford the cost of student group trips. Since the program’s inception, SYF has awarded scholarships to more than 7,200 deserving youth.

Teach & Travel asked Barbara McCormack, vice president education for the Freedom Forum Institute and chair of the SYF Executive Committee, to talk about the foundation’s Road Scholarship program.

1. What is the Road Scholarship?

A Road Scholarship is financial aid granted to individuals or groups of five or more. Individual awards given are up to $1,000 and group awards are up to $5,000. The scholarship was established in 2002 to award funds to youth who cannot afford the cost of traveling with their student groups. Because SYTA and the SYTA Youth Foundation believe travel is essential for a complete education, it’s SYF’s goal to help make a positive difference in youth, through the experience, education and adventure of travel. Over close to 20 years, SYF has awarded scholarships to thousands of youth who deserve these opportunities.

2. What sets the Road Scholarship apart from other opportunities?

Grants are awarded for either national or international travel and the scholarship does not have to be applied for through a young person’s school. It can be independent travel, as long as the applicant meets the criteria.

Achievement: Accomplishment in the student/group’s area of focus.
Need: Financial, cultural, linguistic, homelife hardship.
Initiative/Involvement: Preparation financially and/or through enrichment activities.
Service/Citizenship: Student citizenship within the classroom or community, family service in military or as first-responder.
Connection: Relevance to student/group’s area of focus.

3. Who is eligible for this scholarship?

Students in grades K-12 and 18 years of age or younger. Nominations for the scholarships can be submitted by program leaders, educators or other school leaders.

4. Why is travel important for students and youth?

Travel not only gives students the chance to apply what they learn in the classroom, but it also improves tolerance and builds curiosity by removing barriers—which exposes them to different ways of life in our world of division and ever-growing tribes.

5. What should everyone know about the SYTA Youth Foundation and its programs?

All the money raised by the SYTA Youth Foundation goes toward student enrichment. We provide access to travel opportunities for youth who would otherwise be unable to participate due to family hardship, budget cuts in school systems, or simply lack of the access to—or education about—travel as a learning experience. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, SYF is able to:

Provide scholarships and financial aid for students and youth in need.
Enrich the link between travel experiences and character development.
Identify opportunities that support the evolving needs of today’s youth.
Design and implement assistance projects to enhance social, cultural, and educational experiences.
Target financial and alternative support resources to further fund SYF objectives.
Act as a vehicle for the many volunteer resources and funding capabilities available from our SYTA members, the student and youth travel industry, the educational community, and the public.

The 2019 Fall Road Scholarship application period is open October 1 through November 15, 2019. To learn more, visit https://sytayouthfoundation.org/roads. Please email [email protected] if you have questions.

Written by Amy L Charles, Editorial Director for Teach & Travel.

This article originally appeared in Teach & Travel.