Today, IC Bus revealed the recipients of its 2025-2026 IC Bus Scholarship Program.
Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their education expenses for the 2025-2026 school year.
The school bus manufacturer’s annual scholarships go to family members of dealer employees. This year, 14 students will each receive $5,000 to support their education expenses.

One of the program's general scholarship recipients is Max Clara. Pictured (L to R): Max's sister, brother, mother Guadalupe Clara, Max Clara, father Jorge Clara who serves as lead journeyman technician, and longtime family friend Alvaro Soltero, journeyman technician.
Photo: IC Bus
Today, IC Bus revealed the recipients of its 2025-2026 IC Bus Scholarship Program.
Each recipient will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their education expenses for the 2025-2026 school year.
This year, 14 students were selected to receive scholarships after a competitive application process. Among them, four were recognized with special honors, exemplifying the values and legacy of the scholarship’s namesakes.
Isabelle Forde – Harlow’s Truck and Bus Sales, Bismarck, N.D.
Livia Takanen – Ascendance Truck Center, Marshfield, Wis.
Damon Wright – Wolfington Body Co., Chester Springs, Pa.
Christopher Shoemaker – White’s IC Bus, Greensboro, N.C.
Ainsley Boyd – Southland Transportation Group, Birmingham, Ala.
Aiden Herley – Midwest Transit Equipment, Whitestown, Ind.
Loran Thieneman – Midwest Transit Equipment, Whitestown, Ind.
Madison Ballard – Waters International Trucks, Columbus, Miss.
Ava Lazzara – Leonard Bus Sales, Deposit, N.Y.
Erica Wilson – Leonard Bus Sales, Deposit, N.Y.
Max Clara – RWC Group, Huntington Park, Calif.
Alex Rodriguez – Longhorn Bus Sales, Houston, Texas
Sari Johnson – Rush Truck Centers, Salt Lake City, Utah
Carter Reineke – Cornhusker International, Lincoln, Neb.
“We are incredibly proud to support these talented students through the IC Bus Scholarship Program,” said Charles Chilton, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “Education is a powerful tool for shaping the future, and we are honored to play a role in the journeys of these exceptional young individuals. Congratulations to this year’s recipients — you represent the values, ambition, and potential that make our industry and our communities thrive.”
The IC Bus Scholarship Program was created in collaboration with the IC Bus dealer network, and illustrates the company’s dedication to fostering a bright future in the communities where its employees live and work. Since its inception, it has supported hundreds of students across the nation.

School bus contractors and alternative transportation providers, your insights are crucial; please help us report on the state of contracting in this survey. Answers close March 31.
Read More →
CalAmp’s updated Here Comes The Bus app introduces enhanced safety controls, streamlined parent onboarding, and expanded features to improve visibility and communication around student transportation.
Read More →It’s a celebration and a blast from the past in this special anniversary episode of The Route. Take a walk through major industry moments, milestones, and the people who shaped it with some faces you haven’t seen in a while! The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
From Maine bus safety upgrades to stop-arm camera bills, electric bus funding, and an Alabama workforce solution, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →Missed any of last month’s industry news? We got you. Reporting from Minneapolis, here’s your quick recap of updates from Waymo's controversy, technology, and safety legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
In school bus tech and vendor updates, check in on news from EverDriven, Gatekeeper, Fleetio, Transfinder, RIDE, and new district partnerships.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest personnel moves from across the school bus industry, including new leadership appointments, various promotions, and major restructuring.
Read More →
School closures are inevitable, but transportation chaos doesn’t have to be. Learn how modern routing technology helps districts model closure scenarios before board votes turn into crises.
Read More →
A cleaner layout, improved organization, and a better reading experience are here. Explore what’s new on schoolbusfleet.com!
Read More →