Student transportation professionals are invited to apply for a continuing education scholarship that will provide them access to the entire STN EXPO West conference in Reno, Nevada.
Richard “Dick” Fischer has built a lifetime career contributing to the student transportation industry. He is a well-known and respected voice in discussions around school bus safety, having spent over six decades serving as a school district transportation director, school-bus safety trainer and consultant. He is an NAPT Hall of Fame member and recognized as the “father” of School Bus Safety Week for successfully petitioning President Richard Nixon in 1969 for the first federal recognition.
Following his official retirement announcement in 2013, Fischer has continued be a presence advocating for continued safety efforts, not only as a speaker at STN EXPO conferences but in his daily School Bus Safety Newsletter email that covers news about school bus and student transportation happenings around the nation. The newsletter subscription is free of charge to any professional in the student transportation industry. Email Dick Fischer for more information.
Scholarship Advances Professional Development Opportunities
Pete Baxter, a former state director of student transportation at the Indiana Department of Education, created the scholarship when Fischer received the STN Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 STN EXPO West conference. Kara Sands, transportation lead trainer and driver at Hanover Community Schools Corporation in Indiana, won the inaugural scholarship last year and shared that she used the opportunity to expand her own professional development.
“I try to keep an open mind. I try to take it all in, you know, whether someone has got more experience at something than me or not. There’s always something I learn new every day. But sometimes people just don’t see that way…For me that is something I would like to discuss with [other] trainers,” she said.
Since expanded by Fischer with additional funding, the scholarship returns this year award to one student transportation professional from a school district or school bus contractor for championing safety at their operations, in their state or nationally. Nominations must be submitted by a supervisor or colleague who can provide detailed examples of the individual’s accomplishments and explain why the nominee would benefit from attending the 2026 STN EXPO West conference and the professional development opportunity.
The scholarship winner will receive funds to cover travel, hotel room accommodations and conference registration costs. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 29, the nomination form can be found at stnexpo.com/west/stn-expo/scholarship.
For regular attendees of the conference, save $100 on main conference registration with Early Bird Savings, ending June 5. The STN EXPO West conference will be held July 9-15 at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada. The six-day agenda includes the Bus Technology Summit plus Green Bus Summit experience, the STN EXPO Trade Show, hands on trainings, educational sessions and other networking events. Register at stnexpo.com/west.
Related: STN EXPO Scholarship Winner Has Personal Passion for Student Transportation Safety
Related: (STN Podcast E270) Not Just a Job: Hear From Dick Fischer School Bus Safety Scholarship Award Winner
Related: Dick Fischer Wins STN’s Lifetime Achievement Award
