Today, the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT)announced the winners of the 2025 NAPT Annual Awards Program, recognizing exceptional achievements in student transportation. 

The 2025 honorees exemplify safety, leadership, innovation, and dedication in ensuring that more than 26 million children travel to and from school securely each day.

2025 Winners

• Distinguished Service Award: Stephanie Walker, CDPT, CSPT, CSNT, CPTS, Director of Transportation for Habersham County Schools (Georgia)

• Distinguished Service Award: Denny Coughlin, Owner at School Bus Training Company

• Continuing Education Award: Michelle Summers, CSPT, Assistant Director of Transportation at Friendswood ISD (Texas). The Continuing Education Award is sponsored by Thomas Built Buses.

• School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award: Sherri Zulick,Training Coordinator at Maine School Administrative District 06. The School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award is sponsored by IC Bus.

• Special Needs Transportation Award: Katherine Michael, CSPT, CPTS, Special Needs Route Supervisor at Fayette County Schools (Georgia). The Special Needs Transportation Award is sponsored by Q'Straint.

• Heroism Award: Spartanburg District 6 staff, bus driver Crystal Foster and bus monitor Joclyn Johnson for their heroic actions in saving children from a house fire. The Heroism Award is sponsored by Blue Bird.

Hall of Fame Inductee

In addition, NAPT announced that Alexandra Robinson will be the sole inductee into the NAPT Hall of Fame for 2025. "Her visionary leadership, decades of service, and unwavering commitment to safe, equitable student transportation have transformed our industry and inspired professionals nationwide," the association wrote on social media.

All award winners will be honored at NAPT's ACTS conference, Oct. 31-Nov. 4 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The awards ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 1 at 3:45 p.m.