"Children's Choice School Bus Driver of the Year"
There are many people who make the wheels on the bus go round and round, but school bus drivers are the heroes who get children safely to and from school. This year, as part of Thomas Built Buses' 90th anniversary celebration, children across America were invited to nominate their favorite driver by submitting a 90-word essay about what makes their driver so special. Thomas Built received hundreds of nominations.
WINNER
DRIVER - Elaine Brogan; CHILD - Erica Gagliardi
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 17
- Type of Bus - 2003 Thomas Built
- School District - Branchburg Township Board of Education - Branchburg, NJ
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "...seeing the smiling faces of the younger children as I open the door in the morning and the stories they share with me."
See the full story (1.76MB PDF)
Grand Prize Winner, Elaine BroganRUNNERS UP
DRIVER - Kurt Anfinson
CHILD - Micole Lansing
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 19
- Type of Bus - Thomas Built Bus
- School District - South Winneshiek - Ossian, IA
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "The children. I have a great bunch of kids."
Kurt AnfinsonDRIVER - Bill Henson
CHILD - Tyler MacDonald
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 6
- Type of Bus - 2005 International 77 passenger
- School District - West Ottawa Schools - Holland, MI
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "interacting with the students."
Bill HensonDRIVER - Leetta Vinson
CHILD - William Burnett
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 32
- Type of Bus - TC 1000 Bluebird
- School District - Greater Albany Public Schools - Albany, OR
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "I enjoy the kids and summers off. It works well with raising a family."
Leetta VinsonDRIVER - Hazel Sleeter
CHILD - Emily Antrilli
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 20
- Type of Bus - 54 Passenger
- School District - Gloucester Township - Blackwood, NJ
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "I love being with the children."
HONORABLE MENTION *
DRIVER - Lisa Oliphant
CHILD - Katie Gibson
- Number of Years Driving a School Bus - 3
- Type of Bus - A regular 22-seat Freightliner school bus
- School District - Iredell - Statesville County - Mooresville, NC
- Favorite thing about being a school bus driver - "When a child is getting off the bus, gives you a hug and tells you that they will see you tomorrow or have a good day."
Lisa Oliphant* To qualify, drivers were required to have a minimum of 5 years of experience, however we felt this entry deserved an honorable mention.
