A driver for Harlow’s School Service in Webster, Lutz has 32 years of accident-free experience under her belt and was described as someone who goes above and beyond her duties for the students of the Webster School District, which is about 150 miles north of Sioux Falls and about 50 miles south of the border with North Dakota. Lutz' knowledge includes the ins and out of not just her bus, but her students as well.

“Patty knows the daily schedules of all the students on her bus and will make contact with parents and sitters or guardians if something doesn’t seem right. Not a small task considering all the separated families and the need to know which students go to which parents on which day,” said SDSTA President Tim Steichen.

Lutz has such a well-known reputation in the district that she is constantly requested by teachers for any scheduled field trips and even by the parents of new riders if they think they live close enough to Lutz’s route.

“It is through the tireless dedication of Patty and hundreds of school bus drivers like her that makes school bus transportation the safest type of land transportation in the world,” added Steichen.

Lutz was honored during the association’s summer meeting in Oacoma on July 16.