Buddy Bus Challenge Winners – May 2026
Central 301 Celebrates Final Bus Buddy Winners of the School Year
The final Bus Buddy drawings of the 2025–26 school year are complete, and Central 301 Transportation is celebrating students who helped make the ride to and from school a positive experience for others.
Throughout the school year, bus drivers nominated students who demonstrated kindness, responsibility, respect, and positive behavior while riding the bus. Each month, one student from every elementary school was selected as a Bus Buddy winner and recognized for helping create a safe, welcoming environment on the bus.
The May 2026 Bus Buddy winners are:
🚌 Country Trails: Ajla Margjanovic, Bus 44, Mr. Jerry
🚌 Howard B. Thomas: Charles Vicari, Bus 2, Ms. Mayra
🚌 Lily Lake: Harper Wiora, Bus 25, Ms. Jacki
🚌 Prairie View: Riya Patel, Bus 9, Ms. Queta
May winners were recognized with a certificate and a Dairy Queen gift card as a thank you for being outstanding bus buddies.
In addition, Prairie View student Riya Patel was selected as the 2026 Central 301 Bus Buddy Winner of the Year after being nominated by her driver for consistently showing what it means to be a great bus buddy. As the year-end winner, Riya will receive two tickets to Santa’s Village from her driver.
Thank you to our transportation staff for helping make every ride safe, positive, and welcoming, and congratulations to all of our Bus Buddy winners throughout the year!
#WeAreCentral 🚀