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Virginia Motorcoach Association Estes-Counselman
Scholarship PrograM

CONGRATULATIONS 2025 Winners

The Virginia Motorcoach Association congratulates our 2025 Estes-Counselman Scholarship Award Winners, Skylar Lojewski, Associate Category, and Gary Vance, Operator Category.

Skylar Lojewski, a proud dependent of VMA Associate member ABC Companies employee Dawn Lojewski, has demonstrated a strong commitment to her education and community throughout her high school years. During her senior year, she actively participated in the Spirit Club, where she engaged with her peers, fostered school spirit, and contributed positively to the school environment. This involvement enhanced her leadership skills and allowed her to form lasting friendships and connections with fellow students and faculty.

As she stands on the threshold of a new chapter in her life, Skylar is excited to begin her academic journey at Lake Sumter State College. Her aspirations extend beyond this initial step, as she plans to transfer to a university in Florida after completing her foundational studies. Skylar has set her sights on pursuing a medical degree to become a certified neonatologist. In this vital role, she hopes to provide compassionate care for premature infants and newborns, making a significant impact in the lives of families during some of their most challenging moments.

Skylar recognizes that her achievements thus far would not have been possible without the unwavering support of her friends, teachers, and family. Their encouragement and guidance have played a crucial role in shaping her academic and personal growth. She feels incredibly grateful for the opportunity to receive the 2025 Virginia Motorcoach Association Estes-Counselman Scholarship, which will help alleviate the financial burden of her college tuition. This scholarship represents financial assistance and a stepping-stone toward her dreams and aspirations.

As she reflects on her journey, Skylar emphasizes the profound importance of this scholarship, stating, “The scholarship will go a long way in funding my dreams and paving the way for me to make a meaningful difference in the neonatal field.” With determination and passion, she looks forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, confident that she will make a lasting impact in the healthcare community.

Gary Vance, a dedicated individual and proud dependent of VMA Operator member John Vance from Quicks-Livick Bus Company, has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to his education and the community throughout high school. His active participation in the VA Food Bank during his senior year reflects his desire to positively impact those around him, showcasing his dedication to service and social responsibility.

Gary is pursuing a degree in secondary education in history and social sciences. His passion for this field was ignited during his junior year by Mr. Longarce, his history teacher, who encouraged him to consider a career in education. Mr. Longarce’s unwavering belief in Gary's potential left a lasting impression on him, fueling his desire to teach history and share his love for the subject with future generations.

Gary's primary goal is to teach high school history, where he aims to inspire the next generation of students. He understands the importance of building meaningful connections with his students, believing that fostering a genuine interest in history is essential for effective teaching. By engaging students innovatively, Gary hopes to make history relevant and exciting, encouraging them to explore the past and its impact on the present and future.

After completing his degree, Gary plans to return to Rockingham County, Virginia, to teach history at a local high school. This decision is deeply rooted in his desire to give back to the community that has significantly shaped his journey and experiences. He envisions positively influencing future students in his classroom, helping them develop a passion for learning and a deeper appreciation for history. Through his commitment to education and community engagement, Gary aspires to leave a legacy in the lives of his students.

Congratulations, Skylar and Gary. The VMA wishes you both a very successful future.

We are now accepting applications for the Virginia Motorcoach Association Estes-Counselman Scholarship.

2026 SCHOLARSHIP TIMELINE. CLOSED	DOWNLOADABLES
November 1, 2025 - 2025 Scholarship Application becomes available for download on VMA website. January 1, 2026 - Scholarship Program opens to receive applications. April 30, 2026- Application period closes. All scholarship applications are due by 11:59 p.m. E.T. July 1, 2026 - Scholarship committee will choose awardees and notify them by phone within the following week.	Available November 1, 2025 Rules Scoring Guidelines Application

Rules

Virginia Motorcoach Association (VMA) Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $750 each in the year 2026. Eligible for these awards are full-time employees, or the dependent children of full-time employees, of VMA Operator (both Tour and Motorcoach) Member companies and of VMA Associate Member companies. The award will go to applicants which best meet the requirements set forth by the Scholarship Committee. Two annual scholarships will be awarded: one for VMA Operator Members of either type (Tour or Motorcoach) and one for VMA Associate Members. Award eligibility for VMA Associate Members is limited to only the actual individual contact member(s), or their family members, actively listed with and having a direct interest in the VMA, as opposed to all employees within the Associate organization.

The Scholarship Committee will be authorized to review the applications blindly, i.e., without identifying data, and make the selections. The Scholarship Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and will serve at the discretion of the Board. Executive Director Team Member Mary Presley will be the point-of-contact for all pre-submission inquiries.

Scoring

All applications will be sent, sealed, to a staff member who will redact all identifying information on the application, from questions 2 – 10 plus signature. Transcripts will also be redacted of personally identify data. The staff member will then return the redacted applications, identified by an application number only, to the judges for scoring.

Judges are selected by the board of directors, namely as the scholarship committee members and the executive director team, totaling six judges.

Scoring will be based on a point system as follows:

One point will be awarded per each 1/10^th of GPA scored above 3.0. Where applicable, applicant should submit GPA using a weighted scale. GPA scores with scores in the 1/100ths may be rounded to the nearest 1/10^th. (Example: 3.42 GPA would be rounded down to 3.40, while 3.46 GPA may be rounded up to 3.5. The point value would be valued at five points for the 3.4 score, or six points for the 3.5 score.) Student should present actual GPA, and the committee will round the scores appropriately.

The scale below demonstrates the point value of student’s scores:

	Unweighted	Points	Weighted	Points
A+	4.3	14	5.3	24
A	4.2	13	5.2	23
A	4.1	12	5.1	22
A	4.0	11	5.0	21
A-	3.9	10	4.9	20
A-	3.8	9	4.8	19
A-	3.7	8	4.7	18
B+	3.6	7	4.6	17
B+	3.5	6	4.5	16
B+	3.4	5	4.4	15
B+	3.3	4	4.3	14
B	3.2	3	4.2	13
B	3.1	2	4.1	12
B	3.0	1	4.0	11
B-	2.9	0	3.9	10
B-	2.8	0	3.8	9
B-	2.7	0	3.7	8
C+	2.6	0	3.6	7
C+	2.5	0	3.5	6
C+	2.4	0	3.4	5
C+	2.3	0	3.3	4
C	2.2	0	3.2	3
C	2.1	0	3.1	2
C	2.0	0	3.0	1
C-	1.9	0	2.9	0
C-	1.8	0	2.8	0
C-	1.7	0	2.7	0
D+	1.3	0	2.3	0
D	1.0	0	2.0	0
F	0	0	0	0

(Source: Crimson Education GPA Calculator – (https://www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/test-prep/unweighted-vs-weighted-gpa/)

One point per applicant will be awarded for each qualifying extracurricular and community activity provided, per year participated during applicant’s high school or higher education school (as applicable) attendance period. Qualifying activities will be determined by judges based on actual separate activities.

Essay questions are subjective to the reader. Therefore, each essay question (degree plan and why, goals and objectives, and career plans) will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being least, 5 being most) by each judge based on their opinion on the thoughtfulness and comprehensiveness of each response, and the judges’ scores will be averaged for a total average point value per essay question, per applicant. A maximum of 2,500 characters will be permitted per essay question.

Download Scoring Details

Criteria for Eligibility

Those eligible to apply must:

Have been employed by, or a dependent of an employee of a VMA member organization for a minimum of one year by January 1 in the year in which the scholarships are awarded.
Already be registered to a full-time college, professional school, or trade school in the previous fall or at the time of application.
Hold a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or if a professional or trade school, the equivalent of a B grade.
The winners, or the parents of the winners, must still be employed at the member's company at the time the winners are selected.
Candidates are eligible to apply for and be awarded this scholarship for no more than two consecutive years. After the second consecutive year, whether or not the candidate is awarded this scholarship, they are not eligible to apply again for a period of one year.

(NOTE: Dependent applicants that will be first year higher education students may apply. Enrollment will need to be validated before the award is given and final high school GPA will be requested.)

Application & Selection Timeframe

Applications must be typed for legibility. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.
Applicant must include proof of eligibility (i.e., high school transcripts, or most recent higher education transcripts if a returning higher education student) as well as proof of registration for the coming semester to the institution where accepted.
The Scholarship Committee will consider applications received between January 1, 2026 and April 15, 2026
Sealed applications will be forwarded to a non-voting administrator, where they will be kept confidential and redacted by that administrator.
Applications will be blindly reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and the final awards will be determined by point system.
Winners will be notified on or within five business days of July 1, 2026

Purpose

The VMA Estes-Counselman Scholarship Program awards scholarships to college-bound high school seniors or students currently in a higher education school, trade, or professional program. Scholarship is based on demonstrated academic achievement, extracurricular and community activity provided, and future career interest. Two annual scholarships will be awarded, one for VMA Operator Members of either type (Tour or Motorcoach) and one for VMA Associate Members. The award will go to applicants which best meet the requirements set forth by the Scholarship Committee.

Criteria

Eligible for these awards are full-time employees, or the dependent children of full-time employees, of VMA Operator (both Tour and Motorcoach) Member companies and of VMA Associate Member companies. Award eligibility for VMA Associate Members is limited to only the actual individual contact member(s), and their dependent family members, actively listed with and having a direct interest in the VMA, as opposed to all employees within the Associate organization. Candidates are eligible to apply for and be awarded this scholarship for no more than two consecutive years. After the second consecutive year, whether or not the candidate is awarded this scholarship, they are not eligible to apply again for a period of one year.

Guidelines

Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis. Scholarship Committee will be authorized to review the applications blindly, i.e., without identifying data, and make the selections. The Scholarship Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors and will serve at the discretion of the Board. Mary Presley, will be the point-of-contact for all pre-submission inquiries. Scholarship award will be announced July 1st.

Download Guidelines

Amount

Each scholarship will be awarded annually to one VMA Operator Member of either type (Tour or Motorcoach) and one VMA Associate Member, as indicated in section 2. The amount of each scholarship will be determined annually by the Scholarship Committee with the approval of the VMA Board of Directors. Dollar amount will be based on VMA financial status and should be included in the following year’s budget.

Application Submission and Deadline

Applications will be accepted starting on January 1st and will close on April 15th.

Download Application

Please mail or email completed applications to:

Scholarship Committee - Confidential
c/o M Presley Group LLC PO Box 320266, Alexandria, VA 22320 Email: vamotorcoach@gmail.com

Application form will be located on the www.vamotorcoach.com, Scholarship Program as of November 1 of the preceding year.

Collection and Distribution of Applications

Applications are to be mailed directly to the VMA, to be forwarded, SEALED, to an assigned reviewer. Alternatively, applications may be emailed directly to the assigned reviewer. The reviewer will process each application as indicated below. This process should be completed within five working days of April 30th.

Reviewer will:

Collect all applications and review for completion.
Separate Operator and Associate applications.
Save applications to an unshared file.
Mark each application with a random identifier.
Create a log associating random identifiers with applicant names and personal information (accessible to reviewer only)
Redact all traces of applicant’s name and personal information.
Set up meeting with committee to review scorecard prior to sending out applications for scoring. This gives the judges an opportunity to review the scoring process on a sample basis and identify any clarifications that might be needed during the scoring process.
Update reviewing scorecard, if needed.
Provide committee with redacted applications and scorecard within five working days after closing date of April 15th (Extended to April 30th).

Application Judging Process

Scholarship Committee will review the applications blindly, i.e., without identifying data, and make the selections.

Once application and scorecards have been sent, judges will have until June 1st to complete the judging process.
Completed scorecards will be provided to assigned reviewer to audit and tally scores.
Reviewer will call a meeting of the Committee to review final tally and determine the winner within five business days. “Question” section on scoring card should be discussed if judges scores do not match. “Essay” scores to be discussed if we have “tie” for winner.
Reviewer will complete employment and transcript verification on the proposed winner(s).

Announcement Process

Scholarship award winners will be notified on July 1st or within five business days thereafter.

Winner will receive a phone call from the Committee Chair.
Winner will provide a picture and biographical paragraph which will be included in VMA media.
Winner will be mailed the check within five business days of the actual award.
Winner will be mailed VMA certificate and Letter from the VMA President separately from the award check.