NAPT Summit Scholarship Winners Welcome Learning, Networking Opportunities


By Michelle Fisher Once again, generous scholarships provided


by the Lawrence family and Zonar Systems will make NAPT Summit attendance possible for several attendees who would have otherwise missed it. Peter Lawrence, transportation di- rector for the Fairport (N.Y.) Public Schools, and wife Linda have created a scholarship that will fund trips for four school bus driver train- ers. Meanwhile, Zonar Systems donated 10 scholarships to cover the cost of conference registration. “Zonar is committed to helping NAPT expand


the range of opportunities and benefits it offers its members,” said Don Carnahan, VP of busi- ness development for pupil transportation. “We have created this endowment to help give


back to an industry that does noble work for students across our great nation,” said Peter Law- rence. “We hope driver trainers and front-line supervisors take advantage of the opportunity.”


go, but no funding is available for this type of professional development,” Cochran-Young said.


‘Limitless Opportunities for Learning’ Other scholarship winners reported the same


tightened purse strings at their school districts. “I would not have been able to attend this


conference had it not been for the Peter and Lin- da Lawrence Scholarship,” said Carli Shanholtz, who has worked as a driver for 11 years and a trainer for four at Hampshire County Schools in Romney, W.Va. “I hope to gain more knowledge of transportation and to be able to return to my home county with more confidence and pride.” Delvico Dunn, safety and training manager


at Union County (N.C.) Public Schools, said it would have been difficult to attend the confer- ence without help. “In tough economic times, it’s hard for any


travel,” Dunn said. “Transportation changes daily, and I want to stay updated on the current changes…Tere are limitless opportunities for learning and adding to my personal toolkit, and I plan on taking advantage of them all.” The final Lawrence scholarship recipient,


Kim Rentner, said she is honored to receive the scholarship. “Tis is my first year attending…and I would


Peter Lawrence, pictured, and wife Linda started their scholarship in 2009.


One Lawrence scholarship recipient, Janice L.


Cochran-Young, knows about the myriad of op- portunities because she presented a 2007 NAPT breakout session. “I came back to my district with many new


ideas and renewed energy for training. It is great to be the student instead of the trainer every now and then,” said Cochran-Young, transpor- tation safety trainer for the Tompson School District in Loveland, Colo. She added that she wouldn’t have been able


to attend this year’s Summit without the schol- arship as she must already pay airfare and shared hotel accommodations out of her own pocket. “Te district was able to give me the time to


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never have been able to go if I did not receive the Lawrence scholarship,” said Rentner, who has been with the Marengo (Ill.)–Union Consoli- dated School District 165 for 12 years. “I plan on learning as much as I possibly can! My goal is to be nationally certified in driver training.” Goals of the Zonar scholarship recipients also


include professional development, but some of these student transporters said they are just as eager to check out new products and build upon their current business relationships. Peggy L. Whitacre, transportation supervisor for


the Elkview Terminal, Kanawha County Schools, Charleston, W.Va., has attended two prior NAPT Summits in Louisville, Ky., and Portland, Ore. “I learned so much at the past two conferenc-


es, networking with other transportation per- sonal, learning how other state transportation departments differ from ours. I was amazed at how the different states train drivers,” said Whit- acre, who is also a Regional Educational Service Agency school bus trainer and state school bus driver examiner.


Andy J. Martin, director of transportation


at School District U46, Elgin, Ill., said he has also reaped many benefits from previous NAPT Summits. “Te information available, trade show and


opportunity to talk and interact with transpor- tation professionals is priceless,” Martin said. “Te 2011 conference appears to have very infor- mative sessions, and as always, I’m looking for- ward to the trade show.”


“I am looking forward to learning about where the


puck is going instead of where it has been.”


George Sontag, Worthington Schools Columbus, Ohio


Addressing ‘Common Problems’ For one Zonar winner, this year will mark her first


time attending the Summit. After more than 10 years as GIS specialist for the Alpine School District in Utah, Shari Gillman has transitioned into a new role as a private GIS/GPS analyst and consultant. “I hope to learn more about the NAPT as an


organization, build on my communication and leadership skills, network with other profession- als to learn from and share how we struggle to overcome common problems with decreased funding and increased expenses,” said Gillman, “and really, since this is my first conference, watch how student transportation is interpret- ed and carried through throughout the nation.” Tis year’s conference will be a “family affair”


for George Sontag, transportation supervisor for Worthington Schools in Central Ohio. He said he was eager to attend this year’s summit with his fa- ther, George R. Sontag, Jr., who is transportation su- pervisor for Centerville City Schools near Dayton. “I am looking forward to learning about where


the puck is going instead of where it has been,” Sontag said. “It is also an opportunity to be around many of my Ohio colleagues and espe- cially my dad, who will be attending with over 50 years of experience in transportation. You might say this is a family affair.” ■


THE SHOW REPORTER


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