Last night and this morning several individuals were cited for the leadership they've provided the school transportation both this year and throughout their careers during the annual NAPT conference, held this year in Louisville, Ky.

One of those recognized was Dreana Trent. On Dec. 15, 2008, the school bus driver for Gwinnett (Ga.) Public Schools performed the Heimlich maneuver on a special needs elementary student in her bus who was choking on hard candy while directing her onboard student helper to radio dispatch. The Heimlich didn’t work, so she then performed CPR and got the boy breathing again. She had trained her onboard helper, a newly homeless student at the time, on radio procedures prior to this incident. For her life-saving efforts and preparedness, Trent was presented with the 2009 Blue Bird Heroism Award.

This morning, STN recognized Brian Weisinger, the transportation director for Spring (Texas) ISD with its annual Leadership Award. Weisinger is featured in the November issue of School Transportation News magazine. Also this morning, America's Best School Bus Inspector and Technician winners Nikolas Warejcka and David Smith received their trophies. The event was held in September.

Other award winners include:

• Thomas Built Buses Continuing Education Award: John Lyles, Transportation Director, Clayton County (Ga.) Public Schools

• NAPT Hall of Fame Award: Tom Cellitti, Vice President and General Manager of International’s Medium Truck Vehicle Center, Navistar

• IC Bus School Bus Driver Training Award: Mark Linstrom, Transportation Director, Troup County (Ga.) School System

• Sure-Lok Special Needs Transportation Award: Randy McLerran, Director of Transportation and Student Transfers, Oklahoma State Department of Education

• School Bus Fleet Administrator of the Year Award: David Pace, Director of Transportation Services, Virginia Beach City (Va.) Public Schools