The 16th National Congress on School Transportation, held in Des Moines, Iowa, last week, was the center of lively discussions on critical industry topics. Organizers also held an awards ceremony to honor those who have contributed to the event over the years.
PHOTOS: Highlights from NCST
Members of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association sponsored the shuttle bus service and welcomed attendees, offering advice and goody bags.
At the podium are NCST Steering Committee Chair Murrell Martin (left) and Bill Loshbough, who delivered the charge to the delegates.
Delegates from Delaware review proposed changes.
West Virginia delegates discuss proposed revisions.
Bill Loshbough received an award for his critical work on the congress over the past 30 years.
The Congress gathered at the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport/Conference Center, conveniently located just across the street from the airport. Photo by Max Christensen.
Southeast Polk Community School District lended school buses and drivers to shuttle Congress members to and from the meeting site and area hotels.
The Scottish American Military Society Color Guard kicked off the first general session on Sunday evening. Photo by Max Christensen.
Each group of state delegates had their own table with their own state signs. Delegates were asked, jokingly, by Congress On-site Chair Terry Voy not to take the signs home with them.
Congress On-site Chair Voy manages the voting process on proposed changes to the National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures.
North Carolina state director Derek Graham, standing left, confers with other delegates during a break.
Chris Ellison, a delegate from Oregon, participated in the discussion regarding verbiage on the backs of school buses.
Shown right is Jim Lohr, a parliamentarian from Improving Meetings LLC. He helped the congress adhere to Robert's Rules of Order.
During the awards ceremony on Tuesday evening, Murrell Martin shares his experiences with the late Don Carnahan, two-time NCST chair and avid contributor over the years.
State director of Iowa Max Christensen, shown right, presented Terry Voy with an award to recognize his work as the congress on-site chairperson.
Christensen presents an award to Dwight Carlson, shown left, for his work on NCST. Carlson was Christensen's predecessor as the Iowa state director.
Wyoming state director David Koskelowski accepts an award for his work as the food and beverage coordinator for the event.