AUGUSTA – An awards ceremony was held at the Blaine House for the state school bus safety poster winners. Students from around the state last school year made up bus safety posters that were judged at Maine Association of Pupil Transport annual conference held at Sugerloaf in July.

Two students from SAD 43 made the finals and were presented the following awards: Tyler Daigle, second place, special education field division, $50 and trophy; Chad Cormier, first place, grade three to five, $75, trophy and entry at the national level in Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 13 to 16.

Both students attend Rumford Elementary School. After the awards ceremony, the students were given a tour of the capital building.

SAD 43 officials also attended a Maine Department of Environmental Protection grant ceremony in the Hall of Flags. The district will receive $32,000 to outfit 16 of its 23 school buses with diesel oxidation catalysts.

While school buses are the safest way to transport children to and from school, diesel exhaust from idling vehicles can accumulate on and around the bus and pose a health risk.

With funds from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus USA program, the state agency will help 21 school districts acquire diesel oxidation catalysts and retrofit 266 buses.