State winners submitted to national contest

An eighth-grade student from West Franklin Unified School District 287 and a fifth-grade student from Frontenac USD 249 claimed the top two spots in the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit’s 2022-2023 School Bus Safety Poster Contest. 

Sadie Craig, an eighth grader at West Franklin Middle School, West Franklin USD 287, was the top winner for Division 3, which is students in sixth through eighth grades. Sadie is a student in Wade Smith’s art class and the daughter of Shawna Craig. 

Harper Lindsay-Gaikowski, a fifth grader at Frank Layden Elementary School, Frontenac USD 249, was the top winner for Division 2, which is students in third through fifth grades. Harper is a student in Troy Morris’s art class and the daughter of Andrea Lindsay and Alec Lindsay-Gaikowski. 

Submissions could be made in the following categories: 

• Division 1: Grades K-2. 
• Division 2: Grades 3-5. 
• Division 3: Grades 6-8. 
• Division 4: Special education, grades K-12. 

KSDE received a total of about 100 entries. However, there weren’t any entries in Divisions 1 or 4. 

Posters had to illustrate this year’s theme, “Safely Rolling to My Destination.” 

Posters submitted at the state level had to be drawn between Oct. 14, 2022, and March 1, 2023, and had to be submitted no later than March 10.  

Winning entries at the state level have been submitted to the National Association of Pupil Transportation for national judging. National winners will be announced in late May or early June, said Melissa Ostermeyer, school bus training coordinator for KSDE. 

“Congratulations to Sadie and Harper,” Ostermeyer said. “We are very proud of your accomplishments and wish you good luck at the national level.”