WAPT establishes industry service, leadership awards

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Washington Association for Pupil Transportation (WAPT) has created two honors to recognize industry professionals for leadership and service.

The WAPT Hall of Fame was established to recognize individuals who have made an extraordinary difference in the pupil transportation industry within Washington through many years of exemplary service.

The first Hall of Fame inductee is longtime Transportation Supervisor Sharon Elizabeth Schalk of White Salmon School District. Her induction was based upon a lifetime of service and accomplishments.

WAPT’s board of directors also established an award to recognize pupil transporters with leadership responsibilities who have gone above and beyond the highest expectations of service. The award is called the Sharon Elizabeth Schalk Leadership Award in honor of the standards set and examples presented by its namesake. Schalk is the first recipient.

Both inaugural awards were presented to Schalk during the association’s annual conference last month.