Bald Eagle Students Win School Bus Safety Contest
Two middle school students from Wingate placed first and second in the statewide Pennsylvania poster competition.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Bald Eagle Middle School students Hailey Struble and Gracelyn Glunt secured the top two spots in the grade 6-8 division of the state School Bus Safety Poster Contest. The winners were honored alongside other students and drivers during Pennsylvania's annual School Bus Safety Week.
Why it matters
The competition promotes awareness for the 1.4 million students who travel by school bus across Pennsylvania every day. Recognizing student art and driver excellence highlights the importance of the Safe Rides - Everyday Heroes theme for daily commuters.
A total of 92 students submitted entries under the theme Safe Rides - Everyday Heroes. The competition includes 10 honored students and 3 bus drivers recognized statewide.
The players
Hailey Struble
She is a student at Bald Eagle Middle School who earned first place in the state school bus safety poster competition.
Gracelyn Glunt
She is a student at Bald Eagle Middle School who placed second in the grade 6-8 division of the statewide safety poster contest.
PennDOT
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees the state's infrastructure and coordinates safety programs including bus driver training.
Pennsylvania State Police
This law enforcement agency partners with transportation authorities to conduct school bus safety inspections and training initiatives.
The details
Hailey Struble took first place and Gracelyn Glunt earned second place in the grade 6-8 division of the competition. PennDOT and the Pennsylvania State Police presented the awards to the winners during a ceremony held at the Hershey Antique Automobile Museum.
Timeline
The state school bus driver safety competition took place in Bellefonte in June 2026.
Pennsylvania School Bus Safety Week occurred from October 19 to October 23, 2026.
The student awards ceremony was held on October 21, 2026, at the Hershey Antique Automobile Museum.
Culture Shift
The recognition of these students follows the 47th Annual State School Bus Driver Competition, which reinforces a long-standing state commitment to transportation standards. This initiative highlights how local safety programs rely on community engagement to maintain rigorous transport benchmarks.
These safety initiatives serve as a reminder for drivers across Pennsylvania to remain vigilant for school buses during daily commutes. Families should reinforce these safety messages with students to ensure continued awareness during morning and afternoon school routes.
The takeaway
Student-led safety campaigns are effective tools for fostering awareness regarding daily transport hazards. Parents and students are encouraged to participate in annual safety events to support the professionals who transport children to school every day.
Further reading
Learn more about local educational initiatives at the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NorthcentralPA.
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