Blake Krapf named Contractor of the Year
Also in the NSTA awards ceremony, Barry Stock of National Express Corp. and Stan Weber of First Student Canada are inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame. Industry consultant Robin Leeds wins the Meritorious Service award.
Blake Krapf (center) receives the Contractor of the Year award from SBF Publisher Frank Di Giacomo. At left is NSTA President Donnie Fowler.
ST. LOUIS — School bus contractors from across the U.S. and Canada were recognized here Tuesday night in the National School Transportation Association’s (NSTA) awards ceremony.
Blake Krapf, CEO of Pennsylvania-based Krapf Bus Companies, was named SCHOOL BUS FLEET’s Contractor of the Year.
Krapf has been an integral member of NSTA and state associations while leading his family’s bus business through significant growth in recent years.
A profile of Krapf will appear in the September issue of SBF.
Other winners in the NSTA awards ceremony were:
Golden Merit Award
Kirk Flach, Durham School Services, Warrenville, Ill.
Robert Hatchett, Durham School Services, Keller, Texas
Hall of Fame Award
Barry Stock, National Express Corp., Aurora, Ontario
Stan Weber, First Student Canada, Calgary, Alberta
Distinguished Service Award
Kellie Dean, Dean Transportation Inc., Lansing, Mich.
Outstanding Driver Service Award
Dwight Miller, Riteway Bus Service Inc., Richfield, Wis.
Meritorious Service Award
Robin Leeds, industry consultant, Noank, Conn.
Go Yellow, Go Green Award
Kickert School Bus Line Inc., Lynwood, Ill.
More Management
Zonar Launches Reimagined Bus Suite Web Portal
Can one platform replace your transportation software stack? Zonar says its new Bus Suite unifies routing, dispatch, field trips, GPS, and parent communication.
Read More →
Indiana Association Announces 2026 Award Winners
See who earned top honors at the 2026 School Transportation Association of Indiana conference, recognizing excellence in school transportation statewide.
Read More →
Student Transportation of America Acquires Massachusetts Contractor
Tremblay’s Bus Company and its 400-bus fleet joins the STA family of brands as the company grows its presence across the Northeast U.S.
Read More →
Michigan Association Announces 2026 Award Winners
See who earned top honors at the 2026 Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation conference, recognizing excellence in school transportation statewide.
Read More →
Inside MAPT 2026: Michigan’s School Transportation Community Connects at Boyne Mountain
Check out highlights from the 2026 MAPT Summer Conference, where over 300 transportation pros gathered for training, networking, awards, and trade show.
Read More →
Summit School Services to Complete Fleetwide Samsara Technology Rollout
The company said outfitting its entire fleet with AI-powered safety and fleet management technology will strengthen student safety and operational efficiency across its local brands.
Read More →
Why the School Bus May Be America's Most Overlooked Icon
Every day, millions of students climb aboard. But few realize the yellow school bus has helped transform education, connect communities, and come to symbolize civic responsibility.
Read More →
Why More Drivers Won’t Fix the Shortage
Hiring isn’t enough. Learn how leading fleets are solving driver shortages through smarter retention, training, and culture strategies.
Read More →
SBFX Keynote Announced: Ann Vote to Share Tips on Leadership and Team Culture
Find out who will be providing this year's keynote at SBFX in Scottsdale this September and what else to expect. District and contractor bus operators are invited to apply and attend at no cost!
Read More →
The School Bus as an American Icon: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of the Yellow Bus
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Blue Bird's Brad Beauchamp explores the history of the yellow school bus, its impact on education, and where student transportation is headed next.
Read More →