ALBANY, N.Y. — Twelve industry professionals have received scholarships to attend the upcoming National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Summit in Portland, Ore., Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.
Ten scholarships donated by Zonar Systems went to:
• Brenda Shaffer of Chelan, Wash.
• Pat Jensen of Crescent, Calif.
• Leonard Swilley of Jackson, Miss.
• Leon Langley of Baltimore
• Yvonne Carpenter of Shoreline, Wash.
• J. Renee Davis of Houston
• Tracie Chandler of Lynnwood, Wash.
• Laura Sigmund of Inchelium, Wash.
• Peggy Whitacre of Romney, W.Va.
• Donna Haney of Santa Fe, Texas
Each scholarship will cover the cost of one conference registration. Recipients will be responsible for all other expenses, as SBF previously reported.
Priority was given to applicants who justified the scholarship as a determining factor for their ability to attend the summit.
Another scholarship was awarded to two people: Lynda Nunez of Tucson, Ariz., and Nancy Kessler of Houston. These women received a scholarship created by Peter Lawrence, director of transportation for Fairport (N.Y.) Central School District, and his wife, Linda.
The Peter and Linda Lawrence Training Scholarship will cover the conference registration fee. Applicants were required to submit a cover letter that contained a brief statement of financial need and two letters of recommendation.
The letters were required to detail how the candidate’s professional capabilities and personal integrity justified receiving the scholarship. A description of why he or she wanted to receive the scholarship, what he or she hopes to achieve by attending the conference and how the training would enhance the applicant’s effectiveness as a trainer was also required, as SBFpreviously reported.
NAPT Summit scholarship winners announced
Ten industry professionals receive a scholarship from Zonar Systems that will cover the cost of registration to this year's event in Portland, Ore. Two receive the Peter and Linda Lawrence Training Scholarship, which will also defray the registration cost.
More Management

Two Midwest Districts Turn to Transfinder
Two separate school districts in Illinois and Ohio have rolled out Transfinder's Routefinder and Tripfinder solutions, respectively.
Read More →
How GPS Tracking Helps School Bus Fleets Improve On-Time Performance Without Adding Routes
Struggling with late buses? GPS data can help fleets cut delays, fix route bottlenecks, and improve on-time performance without adding routes.
Read More →
Zonar Becomes First CARB-Approved OEM Telematics Provider
Zonar received CARB certification allowing fleets with factory-installed V4 telematics devices to automatically submit emissions data for Clean Truck Check compliance.
Read More →
Pathwise Promotes Kris Laseter to President and COO
As the software company caps a year of record growth, the promotion recognizes Laseter's impact with doubled revenue and two large district partnerships.
Read More →
EverDriven Updates VIP App With Real-Time Student Transportation Tracking
The redesigned app gives parents and school districts real-time trip tracking, multilingual access, and improved communication tools.
Read More →
4 Women Leading School Transportation Forward
Careers aren’t linear. Neither is progress. These women share what it really takes to lead in school transportation.
Read More →
Innovation & Inspiration in Burbank: CASTO 2026 Photo Highlights
Take a peek at key moments and top takeaways from the 58th California state transportation association’s annual conference, from session highlights, snapshots from vendors, and interactive activities.
Read More →
NCST Announces 18th Congress Event Dates, New Committees
The National Congress on School Transportation moves to St. Louis in May 2029, convening delegates and industry representatives to discuss updated guidance.
Read More →
7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner
Download this white paper for clear guidance on evaluating your organization’s needs and selecting a partner who delivers long-term value.
Read More →
The Best of CASTO 2026: Key Moments in Video
Take a quick tour of the 58th annual California Association of School Transportation Officials annual conference in this video of just some of the high-energy highlights.
Read More →
