National School Bus Safety Week

Each year, PennDOT sponsors a school bus safety poster contest for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The winners of the poster contest are recognized at an event in Harrisburg held every October as part of National School Bus Safety Week.

Ten winners of the 2026 School Bus Safety Poster Contest were honored for their creativity and resourcefulness in presenting their artwork for this year’s theme “Safe Rides – Everyday Heroes.” The awards were presented by Dios Arroyo, PennDOT Director of the Bureau of Driver Licensing, and Corporal Zeina Black, Permits and Bus Safety Division Supervisor, Commercial Vehicle Safety Division of the Bureau of Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police.

(Front, L to R) Division 2, Second Place: Saieesh Kovelakuntla, Franklin Elementary School, Sewickley, Allegheny County; Division 1, First Place: Bilal Shayan, Bradford Woods Elementary School, Bradford Woods, Allegheny County; Division 1, Second Place: Jada Bernard, East Stroudsburg Elementary School, East Stroudsburg, Monroe County; Division 1, Third Place: Betsy Belmont, New Hope Solebury Lower Elementary School, Solebury, Bucks County. 

(Row 2, L to R) Dios Arroyo, Director of the Bureau of Driver Licensing; Division 2, Third Place: Jeilyn Gutierrez-Torres, J.M. Hill Elementary School, East Stroudsburg, Monroe County; Division 3, First Place: Hailey Struble, Bald Eagle Middle School, Wingate, Centre County; Division 2, First Place: Maria Montero, J.M. Hill Elementary School, East Stroudsburg, Monroe County; Division 3, Third Place: Raegan Johns, Brockway Area Junior High School, Brockway, Jefferson County; Division 4, First Place: Lilyonna Bednar, Wilson Area Intermediate School, Easton, Northampton County; Corporal Zeina Black, Permits and Bus Safety Division Supervisor, Commercial Vehicle Safety Division of the Bureau of Patrol, Pennsylvania State Police; and David Schrantz, President, Pennsylvania School Bus Association.

Note: Division 3, Second Place winner Gracelyn Glunt from Bald Eagle Middle School in Wingate, Centre County, was unable to attend the ceremonies.

No qualifying entries were submitted this year for the Computer Aided category.

The Pupil Transportation Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania School Bus Association hold a Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safe Driving Competition every June to test school bus drivers' knowledge of safety rules and safe operation of their buses. A first-, second- and third-place winner is chosen, and the three winners of the competition are also recognized at an event held during National School Bus Safety Week. Approximately 50 school bus drivers from across Pennsylvania participate in the competition each year.

PennDOT would like to congratulate all of the winners and say thank you to all of the students who participated in the School Bus Safety Poster contest and all school bus drivers for keeping our children safe on a daily basis.