The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Washington State is dedicated to the development and advancement of individuals interested in careers in transportation. COMTO WS offers scholarships each year to students who are pursuing their education in transportation-related fields. The chapter designs its scholarship programs to diversify the transportation profession and increase access to careers for those with limited means. Multiple scholarship awards are available.

Eligible applicants will, at a minimum:

• Be a graduating high school senior or current post-secondary student entering as a freshman, sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student, enrolled in an accredited college, university or a vocational/trade school.
• Be in good educational standing with at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA.
• Be a permanent resident of Washington state (may attend college outside the state).
• Be a U.S. citizen, VISA or green card holder with authorization to attend school in the United States.
• Complete the full COMTO Washington Scholarship Application and submit said application prior to the deadline.
• Be enrolled in an accredited college, university or vocational-technical institution in the term following the scholarship award (e.g. spring quarter 2023, fall semester 2023, etc.) with a major or minor in a transportation-related field.

• freshman
• sophomore
• junior
• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident

Application Materials are described in detail here: https://www.comtowashington.org/programs/scholarship/scholarshipApplyElectronically.html

A single submission should contain all items listed below. Applicants can send additional documents in the submission that they feel support or demonstrate application criteria. If you have questions regarding the application or materials please contact scholarship@comtowashington.org

• Application
• Download and complete the application; must include the name of the requested scholarship. 

• Proof of enrollment for the term following the award.

• • Most recent transcript from a high school, GED program, college, university or vocational/trade school.

• Personal essay
• Essay should be approximately two pages, double-spaced in a 12-point font.
• Should have correct grammar, spelling, a cohesive flow of ideas, and answer the essay question.
• Content should demonstrate applicant’s future career goals related to the transportation industry as well as other information speaking to the character of the student.

• Document(s) demonstrating career-related activities

• Document(s) demonstrating school and community engagement

• Letter(s) of recommendation
• At least one letter for all scholarships except for the Mt. Rainier Graduate scholarship, which requires two.
• Should demonstrate the relationship between the candidate and the person writing the reference.
• Should speak to the applicant’s relevant work, character or other reasons why the applicant should receive the award.

• Evidence of financial need
• Can be a FAFSA student aid report (SAR) - please remove or black out your Social Security Number (SSN) or other sensitive information.
• Can be the financial aid award letter or statement from the college/institution’s financial aid office indicating remaining balances and/or noncovered expenses for the upcoming or current term.

Electronic submittals are encouraged but not mandatory. For electronic submittals, please scan and submit all application materials to: scholarship@comtowashington.org

To mail applications, please email scholarship@comtowashington.org for the appropriate mailing address. Due to many of our staff working off-site the email will notify us that your application is being mailed and we can collect it from the office.

If you have questions regarding the application or materials please contact scholarship@comtowashington.org