Zonar Names Don Carnahan Grant Winners at NAPT Conference
The nine winners of the 2018 Don Carnahan Memorial Grant are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in Zonar hardware.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zonar announced the nine recipients of the 2018 Don Carnahan Memorial Grant at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference on Monday.
These school districts will receive the latest in fleet management hardware and student tracking technology from the supplier:
Brazosport (Texas) Independent School District
Caroline County (Va.) Public Schools
Howell Township (N.J.) Public Schools,
Montgomery County (Md.) Public Schools
Sayreville (N.J.) Public Schools
Socorro (N.M.) Consolidated Schools
Solano County (Calif.) Office of Education
Thompson School District R2-J, Loveland, Colorado
Whittier (Calif.) Union High School District
Recipients of the grant are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in Zonar hardware, including electronic verified inspection reporting (EVIR), global position system (GPS) and real-time engine diagnostic reporting (V3), student tracking (Z Pass), and Ground Traffic Control web-based software.
"With 24 million students riding a school bus each day we want to provide school districts with the technology to give parents peace of mind when their child steps on a bus," said H. Kevin Mest, senior vice president & general manager of passenger services at Zonar. "This grant allows school districts to reduce the upfront cost of acquiring and implementing leading-edge technology systems, and start realizing the benefits of reducing costs and improving student safety."
In an effort encourage its customers to attend, Zonar awards eligible customers with a scholarship to offset the cost of registration.
For more information on the Don Carnahan Memorial Grant, visit www.zonarsystems.com/grant-program.
More Management
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 →
Durham School Services Adds New District Contracts Across Five States
The latest contract awards and renewals will bring the company's transportation services to more students while extending several long-standing district relationships.
Read More →
6 School Districts Named Transfinder's 2026 Top Transportation Teams
The software company has named six school districts across four states to its list for the fourth year, with one 'three-peat' winner. Find out which teams took home top honors!
Read More →
Innovation Was the Answer: Five Lessons Learned in School Transportation from 2025–26
Transportation leaders are embracing technology, transparency, and operational flexibility to meet growing demands with limited resources.
Read More →
AI Tools Roundup: New Fleet Tools Aim to Turn Data Into Faster Decisions
The latest AI-powered platforms could help student transportation teams analyze fleet performance, manage maintenance, and uncover operational insights using natural-language queries.
Read More →
EverDriven Integrates Pathwise's EZRouting into Routing Services
The new partnership combines trusted software with industry expertise to help district transportation teams streamline general education routing, improve efficiency, and lower operating costs.
Read More →
First Student Safety Executive Named Samsara Technology Leader of the Year
David Perez earned the honor for deploying AI-powered safety and fleet technologies that improved driver behavior and family communication.
Read More →
Zum Expands to Rhode Island with 2 New District Partnerships
The Ocean State becomes Zum’s 18th state served as the company expands its presence in the Northeast U.S., while launching operations in Philadelphia, and supporting FIFA World Cup 2026.
Read More →
The Driver Shortage Playbook
Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.
Read More →
Stertil-Koni Announces New Company President
Lewis Nelson joins the heavy-duty vehicle lift provider, succeeding Scott Steinhardt in the lead role.
Read More →



