The New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) presented awards that celebrated safety and service efforts in the industry at their 60th annual convention held last month.
The awards presented included the Distinguished Service Award, Contractor of the Year Award and two Heart of the Industry Awards.
New York State Senator John J. Flanagan was this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes a strong, demonstrated commitment to the mission of the association: to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective student transportation. Flanagan was honored for his work championing a law that makes RFP processes permanent for school bus contracts.
The Heart of the Industry Award honors transportation employees who have gone above and beyond to improve the lives of others. It is divided into two categories: one award for an “on-road” employee and another for an “off-road” employee. The on-road award went to Jean Piard, school bus driver at Chestnut Ridge Transportation. The winner of the off-road award was Stanley Jablonka of Chappaqua Transportation.
The Contractor of the Year Award is considered the NYSBCA’s highest honor. It is presented to a contractor that demonstrates exceptional maintenance, training programs and community involvement, along with an excellent safety and performance record. This year’s honoree is Nicky Fabrizio of Independent Coach Corporation of Inwood, New York.
“This year’s award winners are not only a credit to the New York School Bus Contractors Association, they are an inspiration to everyone involved in pupil transportation. Their commitment to student safety and their community is unmatched,” said Robert Pape, NYSBCA president (pictured at right, above, with recipient Nicky Fabrizio).
