The Beaufort County Schools Transportation Department held their year-end celebration Thursday night to honor the more than 100 school bus drivers and monitors who work each school day. Highlights of the celebration, held at the P.S. Jones Middle School cafeteria, included presentations of appreciation from drivers to their school bus coordinators who are typically assistant principals.

Also included on the agenda were the annual awards. Iris Wilkinson, a school bus driver for Northside High School, received her trophy for winning the 2014 School Bus ROADeo, held last month. Second place went to Paula Cuthrell from Northeast Elementary School and third went to former champ, Jimmy Ward from Washington High School. Wilkinson and Ward competed in the regional event where Ward earned a spot at the state competition on May 29.

After each year’s event, scores are averaged by school to determine the School Trophy for the year. This year’s winner was Northside High School.

The grand finale of the awards each year is the Bus Driver of the Year. This is determined through a nomination process from administrators. Names and specific information is stricken from the application and a committee makes the decision based solely on the “heart” of the nomination.

The 2014 School Bus Driver of the Year for Beaufort County Schools is Ann German from Chocowinity Middle School. German has driven for the system for more than 40 years. Her nomination included many accolades such as always being on time, never having missed a day and taking great pride in the physical condition of her bus. However, the qualities that put this “calming presence” over the top came from this portion of the nomination.

“What sets Mrs. German apart I believe is the effort she puts forth to really get to know and build relationships with her riders,” explained Assistant Principal Crystal Dixon. “Mrs. German is a living example of how a smile and a kind word can start and end a child’s worst day in the best way.”