SYTA Youth Foundation Road Scholarship
At Junior Tours, we believe every student should have the chance to learn through travel. Educational trips offer students opportunities to broaden their perspectives, build confidence, strengthen their relationships with peers, and reinforce classroom learning.
The SYTA Youth Foundation (“SYF”) Road Scholarship exists to help ensure that financial hardship does not prevent students from participating in these meaningful educational travel opportunities.
Each year, the SYTA Youth Foundation awards financial assistance to hundreds of deserving students across the United States who might otherwise be unable to afford the cost of travel. These scholarships are designed to reduce the financial burden on families and help students take part in educational trips with their schools and youth organizations.
We are proud to have partnered with dozens of schools and youth groups that have been awarded these scholarships, helping to make travel a reality for their students.
Scholarship Awards
The SYTA Youth Foundation offers financial assistance of up to $1,000. The exact award amount varies based on demonstrated financial need, the number of applications received, and available funding during each application cycle. Scholarship funds are typically paid directly to the travel provider or organization, not to individual families.
Who Is Eligible?
The Road Scholarship is intended for students who are:
- In grades K-12 and 18 years of age or younger at the time of travel
- Traveling as part of a qualified youth group such as a school, band, sports team, club, or youth organization
- Experiencing economic hardship that would otherwise limit their ability to participate
- Enrolled in a trip organized by a qualifying group leader or organization such as school teachers or administrators or performing arts directors
All applications must be submitted by the group leader on behalf of eligible students. Students and parents are not permitted to apply on their own behalf.
Application Periods
Applications are accepted only during designated application periods each year. While dates may vary slightly, they typically occur in early spring and early fall.
Applications submitted outside of these windows will not be considered, so group leaders should review application requirements well in advance of these dates and plan ahead.
This year, applications are open from January 26, 2026 through March 27, 2026. Announcements will be made the week of April 27, 2026.
How to Apply
The application process is completed entirely online and must be submitted by the group leader. To apply:
- Visit sytayouthfoundation.org
- Navigate to Programs
- Select Scholarships
- Choose Road Scholarship
- Click the “Apply Now” or “Submit Nomination” button
- Complete and submit the online application during an open application period
- If it's your first time, click “Sign Up” to create your credentials. Otherwise, click “Login”
- Select "Add New Application" and choose either the "Individual" or "Group" form
“Pro-Tip” on Applications
The application portal does not allow you to save your progress and finish later. To avoid losing your work, we recommend drafting your answers in a separate document beforehand and copy-pasting them into the portal once you are ready to submit. Please note that while you can edit a submitted application until the deadline, you cannot leave an incomplete draft in the system to finish at a later time.
The "Five Anchor" Selection Criteria
To ensure awards reach the most deserving students, the SYTA Youth Foundation evaluates every application based on the following five pillars. Group leaders should address each of these points in their nominations:
- Achievement: Highlight the student’s academic performance or their dedication to personal goals or school activities.
- Need: Illustrate the student’s financial situation to show how the scholarship is essential for their participation in the trip.
- Initiative/Involvement: Demonstrate the student's personal commitment to making the trip happen, including participating in group fundraisers, working a part-time job, and personal efforts to save money.
- Service/Citizenship: Showcase the student’s character through contributions to their school or local community.
- Connection: Explain how this specific travel experience reinforces the student’s education and supports their growth as a global citizen.
Contact Us
The SYTA Youth Foundation is dedicated to fostering youth development through travel. By providing scholarships like the Road Scholarship, SYF helps ensure that students from all backgrounds have access to educational travel experiences that inspire learning, leadership, and personal growth.
If you believe students in your group could benefit from this opportunity, we encourage group leaders to explore the Road Scholarship program and apply during the next open application window. While all applications are reviewed and awarded directly by the SYTA Youth Foundation, we’re here to support your planning process, guide you through the application process, and answer general questions about how scholarships may fit into your trip.
