The National Coal Transportation Association ("NCTA") is a tax exempt, Non-Profit Corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Colorado, with primary purposes to educate and inform members and the general public on issues related to the use and transportation of coal and to promote exchange of ideas, knowledge and technology.

The National Coal Transportation Association Scholarship Program was established to further the NCTA's ongoing interest in education and development of informed leaders of tomorrow. Each year the NCTA provides scholarships to qualified students at various educational institutions. In addition, the At Large Scholarship Program provides scholarships for financial assistance toward the higher education costs of qualified applicants who are children of employees of Association Member companies and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and leadership ability.

The dependent sons and daughters of full time employees of companies which are Members in good standing of the NCTA, and who are enrolled as full time college sophomores or juniors are eligible to apply for a scholarship award to be used for their subsequent junior or senior year. The applicant's parent's Member company must be in good standing and the parent of the applicant must be employed by the Member at the time the winners are selected.

Definition: "Dependent" means the son or daughter of the employee is declared as a dependent exemption for income tax purposes under the rules and regulations established by the Internal Revenue Service.

Currently, four non-renewable, one year scholarships of $1500 each will be awarded each year to qualified applicants. The scholarships are to be applied to educational expenses at any accredited non-profit college or university in the United States or Canada. Recipients of these awards may reapply each year if they remain eligible but may only receive a scholarship award a maximum of two years. A new competition for the awards will be held each year. Recipients may transfer from one institution to another and retain the awards.

Application forms will be available from the NCTA website or by mail March 1st of each year. Applications will be mailed to those who request them. The application will contain general information about the program, eligibility and notification procedures. The deadline for submitting applications is July 31 each year.

An initial selection process to select semi-finalists will be conducted by the faculty and staff of an independent educational institution selected by the NCTA. The NCTA Education Committee, composed of persons who have no connection with any of the applicants, will select the final winners during the month of August each year. The committee will evaluate the applicants' academic records, test scores, extracurricular activities and personal statement of career interest. The Grade Point Average (GPA) and the transcript of college students will also be considered. Finalists will be selected largely on the basis of academic merit. Special consideration will be given to applicants with a stated interest in the various industries represented by the NCTA field of Membership. All applicants will be notified of results in September.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled as a full-time students in the fall of the year for which the scholarships are awarded and must complete the entire academic year without interruption barring illness, emergency or military service. Scholarship recipients shall utilize their scholarship funds to pay for tuition, room and board, fees, books or other education related expenses.

On or about September 30th, scholarship recipients shall receive checks for the full scholarship award. Checks are made payable to the recipient.

To ensure impartiality and fairness in the selection of scholarship finalists and to maintain a high level of professionalism in dealing with students, parents, high schools and colleges, the National Coal Transportation Association Scholarship Program will be administered by the faculty and staff of the Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, or such similar educational institution as approved in the future by the Board of Directors of the NCTA, upon recommendation of the Education Committee and the Executive Director.

Application forms and additional information concerning policies, procedures and the awards are available here or by request from the Executive Director of the NCTA:

Mr. Thomas C. Canter, Executive Director
National Coal Transportation Association
4 Meadow Lark Lane, Suite 100
Littleton, CO 80127-5718

Email: tom@nationalcoaltransportation.org