The Southeastern States Pupil Transportation Conference (SESPTC) comprised of 14 member states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) will grant a $2,000 Buster Bynum Education Scholarship in 2025. Named in honor of R. A. “Buster” Bynum, retired Director of the Virginia Department of Education’s pupil transportation office and former SESPTC treasurer, this one-time $2,000 education scholarship is made available to one deserving public-school student in each of the 14-member southeastern states.
Qualifications
The parent/guardian listed on application had a Gross Taxable Family Income equal to or less than $80,000 for each of the “Past Three Tax Years.” (For the purpose of this scholarship award, the “Past Three Tax Years” is defined as the 2022, 2023 and 2024 tax years.)
The parent/guardian listed on application has been an active employee in public school transportation during the “Past Three Years.” This includes school bus drivers, aides, monitors, mechanics, parts clerks, foremen, managers, trainers, supervisors, directors, and inspectors that work in public education. (For the purpose of this scholarship award, the “Past Three Years” work history requirement is defined as the period since January 1, 2022.)
The student applicant has at least a 3.0 (B) scholastic average, will graduate from a public high school, and will attend a post-secondary educational institution starting in 2025.
The scholarship cannot be awarded to any student who has a family member serving on the selection committee.
Submission of Application and Timeline
1. April 15, 2025 – Applications are due to the local school district transportation office in your county. See application at this link SESPTC Buster Bynum Scholarship Application for 2025. A local selection committee established in each school district shall select from all local applicants a finalist whose application must be submitted to the State SESPTC Scholarship Selection Committee. Only one application from each school district will be judged at the state level. Applications shall not be submitted to the state by student applicants.
2. May 1, 2025 – Submit the local finalist to the state SESPTC Scholarship Committee. Mail entry to the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Safe and Orderly Schools, Division of Pupil
Transportation, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS 39205 .
3. June 1, 2025 – The state SESPTC Scholarship Selection Committee will select the state’s winner. Information on the winner of the scholarship will be sent to Derek Graham, Treasurer, SESPTC, by June 1, 2025. His email address is derek@DGrahamconsulting.com. Attached is the form to be used to submit the information on the scholarship winner.