NAPT Honors Training, Heroism at Annual Conference

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Pupil transportation providers who perform exceptional feats for the students and communities they serve were honored here at the NAPT conference.

Here are the 2017 award winners:

The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, was given to Peggy Stone, the supervisor of transportation for Kanawha County (W.V.) Schools.

Winning the School Bus Driver Training Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was Milton Waye, the director of transportation for Brockport (N.Y.) Central School District.

The Leland E.G. “Lee” Larson Quality Award was presented to Alfred Karam, director of transportation for Shenendehowa Central School District in Clifton Park, New York.

NAPT’s Heroism Award, sponsored by Blue Bird, went to Jeannie Buck, a bus driver for Marietta City (Ga.) Schools. Buck had demonstrated quick thinking and true heroism during a shooting in November 2016.

Upon hearing the shots, Buck maintained her composure, even though the gunman had clearly noticed her and made eye contact, according to the NAPT Awards Committee. Buck was able to get the attention of the students who had just exited her bus, and, since they trusted her, they did not hesitate or question why she was urgently motioning for them. She also continued to survey the scene to get siblings outside of the bus inside the bus to keep them safe.