Do you know a promising college junior, senior, or graduate student who’s interested in public transportation? If so, it’s time to encourage these up-and-comers to apply by May 31 for a 2013 American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) scholarship.

Click here to get a scholarship application. Winners will be announced at the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 in Chicago. APTF will award a minimum of 14 scholarships this year, including the new APTF BMBG/Janie Wulkan Memorial Scholarship, which will be conferred on a female student pursuing a career in public transportation.

APTF awards scholarships annually to assist students in public transit-related fields with tuition or other educational expenses. Each application must be accompanied by an endorsement from an APTA agency or business member. For details, contact Yvette Conley.

Receiving an APTF scholarship can make a difference. Marie P. Louis received the APTF Shirley A. DeLibero Scholarship at the 2012 APTA Annual Meeting and, less than a month later, was hired by the engineering firm Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM). She is a third-year doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado and, with HMM, a design engineer working on projects with Denver’s Regional Transportation District.

“HMM is a long-standing member of APTA and a supporter of APTF,” said Nicholas DeNichilo, president and CEO. “We encourage a variety of young professionals via scholarship donations, new hires, intern positions, and mentorship within HMM. Marie is a very talented young engineer, and we are delighted to have her join us.”