OKLAHOMA CITY — With a speech titled “Do I Have to Ride the Bus Today?,” a ninth-grade student won the fifth annual Oklahoma State School Bus Safety Speech Contest in early May.

Christopher Duvall of Tahlequah, Okla., beat out seven other regional winners from high schools across the state to capture the title. Awards for the competitors totaled $2,900 in donations from various companies.

The State Department of Education hosted the May 6 event. Judges for the contest included representatives from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, the Oklahoma Association for Pupil Transportation and several state police and safety agencies.

State school transportation director Randy McLerran, who began the speech contest in 1999, pointed to the profound impact the event and its leaders have had on students in the state over the past five years.

“Because of the continued support of many school bus corporate sponsors and over 20 event volunteers, Oklahoma high school students are learning valuable leadership qualities and winning financial awards needed for their post-secondary education,” he said.