Poplar Bluff student wins statewide school bus safety poster contest
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — A Poplar Bluff High School freshman has won $500 after being named the overall winner of a statewide school bus safety poster contest.
Aubree Bennett received the award Monday, Oct. 26, from the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation (MOAPT).
Bennett earned first place among more than 50 submissions in the sixth through eighth grade division before being selected as the overall winner across five divisions.
“The idea is to take the theme and display it in a catchy way for kids, and we felt unanimously that she took the message and made it mesh,” MOAPT Executive Director Keith Henry said. “That’s what she nailed, the simplicity – and the artistry of the bus.”
Bennett created the hand-drawn poster last school year while attending eighth grade in Jodie Berry’s Project Lead the Way design and modeling class.
Her artwork reflects the 2026 theme, “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes,” and highlights school bus safety rules, including staying away from the curb, waiting for buses to stop before boarding, remaining seated and watching for traffic when exiting.
The poster was evaluated through a blind scoring process by a committee representing different regions of Missouri before the association’s conference in July.
Although Bennett’s poster did not win the national competition, Henry said the organization was proud of her achievement.
Bennett said she will likely use her $500 prize to add to her LEGO collection.
Berry said teachers selected six designs from her class to advance in the competition. The district’s Transportation Department treated those students to Taco Bell.
Eugene Field Elementary School also participated in the contest, with third grader Alynna Pixley selected as the school’s winner.
Henry said Missouri has increased its participation in the decades-old competition in recent years by offering larger cash prizes funded through membership dues and sponsorships.
The recognition comes as Missouri implements a new school bus safety law for the 2026-27 school year, increasing penalties for drivers who fail to stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and extended stop arms.
Jon McKinney, Poplar Bluff R-I School District director of student services and MOAPT Region VI director, said the contest helps raise awareness about school bus safety.
