SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Honorees include special-needs transportation expert Kala Henkensiefken and school bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 9, 2015
NAPT awards highlight heroism, training efforts

Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools won NAPT’s Special Needs Transportation Award. She is seen here with Bud Fears (left) of Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, the award sponsor, and Minnesota state director Brian Reu, who nominated Henkensiefken.

1 min to read


RICHMOND, Virginia — Honors for heroism, training efforts and leadership have been handed out during the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit here over the past few days.

Here are the NAPT 2015 award winners:

Ad Loading...

The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, went to Bryan Johnson of Howard County Public Schools in Maryland and Rhonda Watson of the School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties in South Carolina.

The Special Needs Transportation Award, sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, went to Kala Henkensiefken of Brainerd (Minn.) Public Schools.

Winning the School Bus Driver Training Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was Mark Lindstrom of Marietta (Ga.) City Schools.

The Heroism Award, sponsored by Blue Bird Corp., went to Macon County (N.C.) Schools bus driver Alice Bradley, who was credited with thwarting a potential school shooting in June.

The NAPT awards committee is composed of Theresa Anderson, chair; Jerry Milliken, co-chair; Marisa Weisinger; and Chris Ellison.

Ad Loading...

Other awards presented during the Summit included School Bus Fleet’s Administrator of the Year honor, which went to Pam McDonald of Orange (Calif.) Unified School District.

Also, Charmane White of Albemarle County (Va.) Public Schools won STN's Leadership Award.

More Management

A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Dawnett Wright and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Dawnett Wright's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 11, 2026

She Left the Air Force, But Never Left the Idea of Service

Dawnett Wright found a second calling in student transportation, one rooted in flexibility, family, and service. See how that mission still drives her in this National Military Appreciation Month profile.

Read More →
School transportation employees wearing high-visibility safety jackets pose in offices and near school buses as part of a driver safety recognition program.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 7, 2026

Wrapped in Appreciation: Contractor Awards Custom Jackets for Commitment to Safety

Summit School Services recognized more than 5,500 drivers and monitors with safety awards after meeting accident- and injury-free performance standards over the past three years.

Read More →
OSHA compliance training materials for school bus technicians and drivers, including manuals, USB drive, certificate, and laptop displaying course content.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

The School Bus Safety Company Updates OSHA Compliance Course

The updated training course offers school bus operations a structured program covering 29 safety standards for technicians and drivers.

Read More →
A red, white, and blue graphic with pictures of Thomas Gray and text reading "Honoring U.S. Veterans: Thomas Gray's Story."
Managementby Elora HaynesMay 4, 2026

What Happens When Battle-Tested Leadership Meets Student Transportation?

See how Thomas Gray brings Marine Corps discipline and logistics expertise to Dayton Public Schools in this article celebrating National Military Appreciation Month.

Read More →
Close-up of fuel pump nozzles at a gas station, representing rising diesel costs and fuel management challenges for school bus fleets.

Diesel Prices Spike: Tips to Cut Fuel Costs with Data and New Geotab Tools

With diesel prices up 46%, new Geotab analysis points to tools that help fleets reduce idling, detect fuel anomalies, and recover hidden fuel costs across operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
zonar system image
SponsoredMay 1, 2026

What Data Shows About Student Transportation in 2026

Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet leadership update graphic featuring Transit Technologies and headshots of Lisa Horkins, Nunu Dueman Yates, Michael Lei, Srithal Bellary, and Cristina Wheless.
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Transit Technologies Announces New Executive Appointments

The Bytecurve and busHive parent company has multiple new faces on its executive team as the company focuses on AI platform growth.

Read More →
photo of a woman seated at a desk talking to a man, looking at a tablet
Managementby News/Media ReleaseApril 29, 2026

IC Bus Introduces ‘My International’ to Connect Fleet Vehicles, Data, and Service

Available on desktop or mobile, the digital ecosystem brings fleet monitoring, service management, vehicle insights, and dealer communication into a single interface.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A graphic with an image of a school bus's rear bumper, a Transfinder logo, and text reading "More District Installs Across the U.S."
Managementby StaffApril 29, 2026

More Districts Tap Transfinder for Routing, Tracking, and Communication Tools

See which users in Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are adopting Transfinder’s routing, tracking, and parent apps.

Read More →