ATCA Scholarships Program: Terms of Reference

I. PURPOSE

Air Traffic Control Association (ATCA) scholarships are awarded to help support the financial needs of those deserving students who have chosen to seek higher education in the science of air traffic control and other aviation disciplines, as well as the children of air traffic control specialists.

II. SCHOLARSHIP CATEGORIES

ATCA scholarships are awarded as listed in the table below. See Section III for specific eligibility requirements for each category.

1. * Students enrolled half- to full-time in a two- or four-year air traffic control program at an institution approved and/or listed by the Federal Aviation Administration as directly supporting the FAA's college and training initiative.
   Scholarship Amount - As determined by the ATCA Scholarship Program Board of Directors.
2. Students enrolled half- to full-time in a program leading to a bachelor's degree or higher in an aviation-related course of study.
   Scholarship Amount - Maximum award $2500.00. Minimum award of $1500.00
3. ** Full-time employees enrolled in advanced study programs to improve their skills in air traffic control or an aviation discipline.
   Scholarship Amount - As determined by the ATCA Scholarship Program Board of Directors.
4. *** U.S. citizen children, of air traffic control specialists, enrolled half- to full-time in a program leading to a bachelor's degree or higher.
   Scholarship Amount - As determined by the ATCA Scholarship Program Board of Directors.

* Category A (Gabriel A. Hartl) scholarship funds are separate from categories B, C, and D and are treated independently.

** No more than 25% of available category B and C scholarship funds are reserved for Category C awards.

*** Category D (Buckingham Memorial) scholarship funds are separate from categories A, B, and C and are treated independently.

The number and amounts of scholarships awarded will vary depending upon the qualifications, financial need and number of outstanding candidates who apply; however, in any event the total amount of the scholarships awarded in Categories B, C, and D will be limited to earnings generated by the respective fund(s).

ATCA scholarships will be awarded without regard to sex, race, religion or national origin.

III. SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Category A (Gabriel A. Hartl Scholarship):

1. Enrolled half- to full-time in a two- or four-year air traffic control program at an institution approved and/or listed by the Federal Aviation Administration as directly supporting the FAA’s college and training initiative.
2. Attendance is equal to at least half-time (6 semester hours or the equivalent).
3. Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed before graduation.
4. Application must be received by May 1 in the year applying.

Category B (Half to Full-Time Student Scholarship):

1. Enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university and planning to continue the following year.
2. Coursework is related to his/her planned aviation-related career and leading to a bachelor's degree (or higher).
3. Attendance is equal to at least half time (6 hours).
4. Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed before graduation.
5. Application must be received by May 1 in the year applying.

Category C (Full-Time Employee Scholarship):

1. Engaged in full-time employment in an aviation-related field in government, military service or industry.
2. Coursework designed to enhance employee's skill in an ATC or aviation discipline.
3. Application must be received by May 1 in the year applying.

Category D (Children of Air Traffic Control Specialists, Buckingham Memorial Scholarship):

1. U.S. Citizen
2. Must be the child, natural or by adoption, of a person serving, or having served as an air traffic control specialist, be it with the U.S. Government, U.S. Military, or in a private facility in the United States.
3. Must be enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university and planning to continue the following year.
4. Attendance equal to at least half-time (6 hours).
5. Must have a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours still to be completed before graduation.
6. Course of study leads to a bachelor's degree or higher.
7. Application must be received by May 1 in the year applying.

IV. PROCEDURES FOR APPLICATION

1. Complete the appropriate application form.
2. Provide two letters of recommendation (from present or previous teachers, professors, instructors, supervisors, or managers) from within the last 12 months.
3. Certified transcript of all college coursework. If less than 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of college coursework have been completed, all high school transcripts also are required.
4. Work or experience that supports your educational and/or aviation career goals must be addressed in the application and/or essay.
5. Financial need must be addressed in your application and/or essay.
6. (For Students Applying for Category A, B or C Scholarships Only) Submit a paper on the subject, "How My Education Efforts Will Enhance My Potential Contribution To Aviation." This paper should be typed, doubled spaced, 400 words maximum.
7. (For Students Applying for Category D Scholarships Only) Submit a paper on the subject, "How My Education Efforts Will Enhance My Potential Contribution in My Chosen Career Field." This paper should be typed, doubled spaced, 400 words maximum.
8. The original application should be mailed (fax applications will not be accepted) to:

Air Traffic Control Association, Inc.
Attn: Scholarship Fund
1101 King Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

V. CONDITIONS OF SCHOLARSHIP

In order to maintain his or her eligibility to receive scholarship funds, each scholarship recipient must, at the end of each academic year, submit to the ATCA Scholarship Fund, Inc., a verified report from the educational institution attended, stating the courses taken and completed and the grades received. Each scholarship recipient must also provide the ATCA Scholarship Fund, Inc., a verified final report upon completion of the entire course of study.

Each scholarship recipient must also inform ATCA whether he or she is related to any member or officer of ATCA.

VI. PRESENTATION OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Normally the scholarship awards will be presented during the ATCA annual fall meeting. Award recipients will be notified by letter.

VII. DISBURSAL OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS

Scholarship funds will be disbursed to the award recipient as reimbursement for actual, legitimate scholastic expenses whenever the student provides the ATCA Scholarship Fund, Inc. satisfactory evidence of the expenditure (i.e., tuition payment receipts, bookstore receipts indicating purchases of textbooks, or receipts for payment of dormitory room and board charges in the case of half- to full-time students only). The award recipient may also have the educational institution submit bills for tuition, dormitory room and board (half to full-time students only), or other scholastic charges directly to the ATCA Scholarship Fund, Inc. for payment to the educational institution. Scholarships are not renewable and the funds must be used within four years of the date of the award. Scholarship funds are disbursed only up to the amount of the initial award. Award winners seeking additional funds must submit a new application and attachments for consideration on a competitive basis.

Income from the fund(s) that is not awarded as a scholarship in any category in a given year may be returned to the appropriate account and accumulated as additional capital or paid out in scholarships in any subsequent year.

VIII. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC.

The Air Traffic Control Association Scholarship Fund, Inc., a Virginia non-stock, non-profit corporation, will administer ATCA’s scholarship program. ATCA's Board of Directors shall, at an ATCA annual meeting, select directors who shall administer the affairs of the ATCA Scholarship Fund, Inc. Each director so selected shall serve for a three-year term.

IX. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS COMMITTEE

The ATCA Chairman-Elect shall serve as the Chairman of the Scholarship Awards Committee. The Chairman of the Awards Committee shall select four to eight members to serve with him/her on the committee and shall advise the ATCA Chairman of his/her selections. It shall be the responsibility of the members of the Scholarship Awards Committee to make themselves aware of each candidate’s qualifications. The Scholarship Awards Committee shall in all cases take the applicant's need for financial aid into consideration in selecting scholarship awardees, and in cases in which qualifications of candidates are reasonably equivalent, make a selection in favor of the candidate with the greatest need.

Home | About Us | News | Activities | Information | Contact Us