Columbia, S.C. – State Superintendent of Education Molly M. Spearman announced the winners of this year’s school bus safety poster competition.

“I am very excited for these three students and their passion for the arts,” said Spearman.  “As a longtime music teacher, I have seen firsthand how motivated students can be when we connect education and the arts in the classroom.  These students submitted excellent artwork while instilling a valuable lesson about bus safety to their classmates and communities.  I am proud of their success and wish them the very best,” concluded Spearman.

The South Carolina Department of Education initiated a school bus safety awareness campaign at the start of the 2015-16 school year.  The department worked with churches, businesses, and schools to disseminate posters around the state to remind drivers when they should stop for a school bus.  Failure to do so results in a $500 fine and six points for a first offense and $2,000 and six points for a second offense.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation hosts an annual poster competition with a specific bus safety theme.  This educational program helps promote National School Bus Safety Week in communities across the country during the third week of October.  This year’s theme is “Bully Free Zone!” and the 2016 theme will be “# STOP ON RED!”

The overall statewide winner is Edward Williams from Hardeeville Elementary School in the Jasper County School District, whose art teacher is Ms. Susan Shaw.  The first place winner is Zaria Willis from Annie Burnside Elementary in Richland County School District One.   The second place winner is Jahasia Gray from Arden Elementary School, also in Richland County School District One, and her art teacher is Mr. George Sims.

Williams will go on now to compete against other statewide winners in the National Association for Pupil Transportation contest in next year.

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