Northstar Bus Lines and American Student Transportation bus drivers always go above and beyond. Recently, our parade team took a bus to a drive through birthday celebration. Driver Mariah Esmay has a grandma who turned 101. With the help of her coworkers, they made sure it was a birthday to remember. 

First, we cut out letters that spelled Happy Birthday to hold up as we sang. The bus pulled up to Sally's birthday party playing Happy Birthday on the loudspeaker. The joy on Sallys face was heart warming  and left many of our drivers with wet eyes. 

One of our drivers by the name of Michael Bennett mentioned how honorable it was to be a part of such a memorable event. Another stated, 

“I am happy we got to be a part of such a special day, it was great to help make a difference and you could really feel the love.”

Sally Esmay also known as Grandma Sally has 6 kids, 19 grandkids and 16 great grandkids. She was a beloved music instructor who also participated in choir. She has a passion for arts and crafts and has made her family many blankets with pictures full of cherished memories. Together, Mariah and Grandma Esmay love to sit outside, chat and watch the Cardinals fly. 

Our parade bus left Sally filled with joy, and thankful to have a thoughtful granddaughter like Mariah. If you are someone who normally goes the extra mile, you’re a perfect fit for Northstar/American Student Transportation. We are currently working together to fix the school bus driver shortage that is happening nationwide. We would love to have individuals join our team who are not new to making a difference in an individual's day.