Montgomery, Ala. – Two Alabama public school students – Jessica Dawn Sisk of Skyline High School in the Jackson County School System and Grace Burttram of Beulah High School in the Lee County School System – are recipients of the 2010 Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference Buster Bynum Scholarship.
The Buster Bynum Scholarship is a one-time $1,000 education scholarship awarded to two deserving public school students in each of the 14 member southeastern states of the Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SESPTC). The scholarship is named for the current treasurer, past president, and longtime member of the SESPTC Board of Directors, who has been a strong advocate for improving student transportation safety for more than 40 years. Prior to his retirement, Bynum served as the Virginia State Director of Pupil Transportation and also held other positions in the field of school transportation. Scholarship sponsors are the Alabama Department of Education Pupil Transportation Section and the SESPTC.
Created in 2005, Buster Bynum Scholarships are awarded to children of school bus transportation employees actively employed in public school transportation for the past five years. Eligible students must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA and are selected based on their leadership, citizenship and service.
Jessica Dawn Sisk is the daughter of Dwayne and Rachel Sisk. Mrs. Sisk has been a Jackson County Schools’ bus driver since 1991 and Mr. Sisk has been driving since 2005. Sisk ranked 1st in her class and maintained a 4.0 GPA for all four years. The 2010 Skyline High Valedictorian is active in school and community activities. She has received awards from the Rural Health Scholars Program, Early College Scholarship from The University of Alabama, and was the Talent Search Trip Essay Winner. Sisk’s advanced English teacher, Kelly Adkins, wrote, “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Jessica over the past three years. Her academic and extracurricular records are matched by her strong leadership and service abilities.”
Grace Burttram is the daughter of Ms. Lucy Burttram, a Lee County Schools’ permanent bus driver since 2000. Burttram is active in school activities including Math Club, Beta Club, Concert and Marching Band, Art Club Secretary, Student Council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her community activities include Habitat for Humanity, nursing home visits, Services for the Elderly in her community, and various church activities. “Grace’s character is beyond what society expects from teenagers today,” said Samantha Vance, Beulah High School English teacher. “She is always one of the first to stand up for what is right, even if her classmates do not agree with her. She will be an invaluable addition to any [college] campus and student body.”
For more scholarship information, contact Brad Holley, Program Administrator in Pupil Transportation, at 334-242-9730 or bholley@alsde.edu.
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