HARRISBURG, PA — The Shapiro Administration recognized nine students and three school bus drivers on Wednesday for their contributions to promoting school bus safety during a ceremony at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. The event, part of the state’s observance of National School Bus Safety Week, highlighted Pennsylvania’s ongoing commitment to transportation safety and community awareness.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) jointly hosted the ceremony, where awards were presented to winners of the 2025 School Bus Safety Poster Contest and the 46th State School Bus Driver Safety Competition.
“With another school year underway, school buses have returned to our roadways, and the Shapiro Administration is focused on getting young Pennsylvanians to and from school safely,” said PennDOT Director of Driver Licensing Dios Arroyo. “School Bus Safety Week is an opportunity for everyone to pause and realize just how much our own actions behind the wheel can affect innocent young lives.”
Corporal Zeina Black of the Pennsylvania State Police added, “Ensuring the safety of our children every day as they travel to and from school and activities is a bus driver’s main goal. They are on the front lines and in the public eye every day doing an extraordinary job.”
This year’s poster contest featured 315 student entries under the theme “Safety First – Safety Always.” First-place winners will advance to a national competition later this month. In the driving competition, more than 50 professional bus drivers demonstrated their skills through written and on-road tests.
In the conventional bus category, Chester County’s JoAnne Cowan of Krapf School Bus took first place, followed by Angie Martin of Brightbill Transport in Lancaster County and Patricia Carey, also of Krapf School Bus.
Events like these carry significance beyond recognition. They reinforce public attention on road safety and remind communities of the essential role bus drivers and safety education play in protecting more than 1.4 million Pennsylvania students transported daily. By fostering a culture of safety awareness—from the classroom to the driver’s seat—the state spotlights that preventing accidents begins with education, vigilance, and respect for those who keep children safe every day.
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