The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) celebrated the achievements of several outstanding school bus drivers at the 50th edition of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, presented by Beacon Mobility.
The event culminated with a Drivers’ Awards Banquet on June 30 at the Austin Marriott South in Austin, Texas, where drivers received recognition certifications and commemorative plaques from NSTA President Dan Kobussen.
The competition began on Saturday, June 29, with an orientation class and a written test. The following day, drivers took part in the skills competition at the Hays CISD Transportation Facility in Uhland, Texas, navigating a rigorous road course. Competitors vied in three categories: small bus, conventional, and transit.
This event draws school bus drivers from across the United States and Canada, offering them the chance to demonstrate their expertise and compete for international titles. Eligible drivers must have won a state or provincial competition in their respective bus category in the past year and must compete in the same category at the international level.
NSTA also honored Bill Loshbough for his 50 years of service as chairman of the Safety Competition and recognized Fili Bonilla, the outgoing Hays CISD Transportation Director, for his role in reviving the competition after a four-year hiatus.
The winners of the 2024 NSTA Safety Competition are as follows:
Small Bus (Type A):
- First Place: Dorothy Dorman, First Student (Kansas)
- Second Place: Claudia Christen, Prairie Bus Lines (Alabama)
- Third Place: Gener Jaimes, First Student (Wisconsin)
Conventional Bus (Type C):
- First Place: Wanda VanZonnevald, Cherry Creek School District (Colorado)
- Second Place: Becky Craig-Johnson, Lakeland Joint School District (Idaho)
- Third Place: Jered Winnestaffer, Community Bus Services (Ohio)
Transit Bus (Type D):
- First Place: Mark Miller, Bellingham Public Schools (California)
- Second Place: Luis Lopez, Bakersfield City School District (California)
- Third Place: Jeremy Klung, Canyons School District (Utah)
“We are pleased that the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition has made its return in 2024, under the leadership of Bill Loshbough. This iconic event provides an opportunity for school transportation to highlight itself in a competitive, but collegial, environment,” Kobussen said.
Earlier this year, NSTA announced a partnership with Hays CISD, designating it as the permanent location for the annual Safety Competition. The organization also congratulated Cassandra Behr on her appointment as the new Hays CISD Transportation Director, effective July 1, and wished Bonilla well in his retirement.
The National School Transportation Association has represented private school bus contractors, vehicle manufacturers, and vendors for 60 years. The association provides school transportation professionals with the tools and resources needed to make school buses safe, affordable, and efficient.
