SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State Jesse White today announced the winners of this year's School Bus Safety Poster Contest. The announcement is held in conjunction with National School Bus Safety Week, which begins October 21st.
"I want to congratulate these students for their outstanding work," said White. "These poster designs are going to be incorporated into a special calendar that will help make school bus safety a year round issue. It's important that we take time to review safety tips for riding the bus safely with students to avoid unnecessary accidents and tragedies."
Secretary White and the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation sponsor the poster contest for Kindergarten through eighth grade students throughout the state. A ceremony awarding the students with the winning poster designs was held Thursday, at 11:00 a.m. in the Hall of Flags of the Michael J. Howlett Building in Springfield.
Each student's winning poster is being reproduced on calendars that will be distributed to schools throughout the state. The poster contest helps students learn safety measures for boarding, riding and exiting the school bus.
"I want to congratulate each of the students for a job well done. I know they put a lot of effort into their designs," said Vicky Cullinan, President of the Illinois Association of Pupil Transportation. "I believe the partnership between the Secretary of State and the Illinois Association for Pupil Transportation has encouraged more children to participate in the poster contest and become aware of school bus safety."
Students receiving awards this year are:
Brandon Barber, Nippersink School, Richmond, IL
Kevin Corbin, Huffman School, Cahokia, IL
Rachel Dalrymple, Kinzie School, Chicago, IL
Amanda Davis, McHenry Middle School, McHenry, IL
Cherity Fulks, Ina Grade School, Ina, IL
Thomas Hast, Sherrard Community District 135, Sherrard, IL
Sofia Kerpan, Ernest Prussing School, Chicago, IL
Tony Mattison, J.D. Colt Street, Litcheifle,d IL
Ashley Paarlberg, Anna McDonald School, Manhattan, IL
Tyler Sharp, J.D. Colt School, Litchfield, IL
Brandon Smith, Centralia School District 135, Centralia, IL
Jonas Jackson, Manteno School District 5, Manteno, IL
Nikki Zaobidny, Richmond Burton Community District 157, Spring Grove,IL
