The American Public Transit Foundation (APTF) invites young public transportation professionals to help with the efforts of its Scholar Task Force, established in 2010 to spread the message of public transit as an interesting and important career choice.

APTF has provided more than 100 scholarships to college undergraduate and graduate students since its founding in 1988. However, the coming retirement of the baby boom generation means that public transit career positions are becoming more available. The task force reaches out to high school and college students to make them aware that this sector offers diverse career opportunities that also provide a meaningful way to help their own communities.

The task force is working with APTA to develop a new Early Career program and seeks input from potential applicants: public transit professionals with three to five years of work experience and one to three years in some sort of management. This program is planned to consist of orientation and capstone sessions and a year-long mentorship program that will focus on transit education, skill building, and networking.

More information is available from the task force chair, David Ledwitz.