The national organizations representing student transportation announced Melissa Yang, a student at Bethlehem Central Middle School (NY), as the overall winner of the 2023-2024 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest. An initiative sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS), and National School Transportation Association (NSTA).

The theme for this year's contest was “Driving Safely Into the Future.” Yang's artwork captures this theme by conveying an important message intended to motivate and educate the educational community. Yang emphasizes the importance of following school bus safety protocols to guarantee a thriving future for any school community. She also illustrates the past, highlighting a longstanding commitment to school bus safety over the years.

Poster Contest judges based their votes on safety impact, originality, artistic quality, and visual impact. Yang's artwork received the most votes to win 1st place and overall winner among entries from 5 divisions with posters submitted from 20 different states, and it will be showcased during this year's National School Bus Safety Week, October 21-25, 2024. 

While Yang's poster was voted as the overall winner, each submission had the opportunity to win the contest, within their respective region. The following are winning divisional recipients of the 2023 -24 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest: 

• Division #1 (Grades K-2)

  • 1st Place: Shrihan Chappa, Springdale Elementary (Macon, GA)

  • 2nd Place: Niko Kita, Glenmont Elementary (Glenmont, NY)

  • 3rd Place: Gracyn Dudding, Chicod School (Greenville, NC) 

• Division #2 (Grades 3-5)

  • 1st Place: Harshini Lingam Muhilan, Unity Charter School (Morris Township, NJ)

  • 2nd Place: Reaga Yaughn, Kay Road Elementary (Byron, GA)

  • 3rd Place: Shinbii Jeon, Pine Tree Elementary (Monroe, NY)

• Division #3 (Grades 6-8) 

  • 1st Place (and overall winner): Melissa Yang, Bethlehem Central Middle School (Delmar, NY)

  • 2nd Place: Minakshi Chilagani, River Trail Middle School (Johns Creek, GA)

  • 3rd Place: Chandhana Lingam Muhilan, Central Middle School (Parsippany, NJ)

• Division #4 - Special Education (Grades K- 12)

  • 1st Place: Nora Schube, Bonaire Middle School (Bonaire, GA)

  • 2nd Place: Natali Morin, Park Center High School (Brooklyn Center, MN)

  • 3rd Place: Makayla Mooney, Jefferson Academic Center (Port Jefferson, NY)

• Division #5 - CAD (Computer Aided Drawing)

  • 1st Place: Rebekah Cullen, Sussex Technical High School (DE)

The 2024-25 poster contest theme will be: Safety First – Safety Always. Entries may be submitted between October 1, 2024– April 1, 2025. Complete guidelines and submission can be found by visiting NAPT's website.