CINCINNATI (May 1, 2025) – First Student, the largest and most advanced student transportation provider, has been awarded the Silver Stevie® Award in the Product Innovation category at the 2025 American Business Awards® for its groundbreaking HALO™ technology platform. With a history of leading the industry through first-ever advancements, delivering more than 5,000 innovations over the past three decades, First Student continues to set the standard for innovation in school transportation. HALO is the unified platform that integrates these groundbreaking technologies to streamline and elevate every aspect of student transportation operations. This recognition reflects First Student’s core value of extraordinary service — caring for students now and into the future with innovative solutions that redefine student transportation.
Developed in-house, HALO represents a transformative leap in school transportation technology. The platform integrates every aspect of First Student’s operations, from recruiting and training to routing, dispatching, vehicle telematics and predictive maintenance, into a unified system that provides a real-time, 360-degree view of every vehicle and student journey.
“For decades, First Student has set the benchmark for innovation in student transportation,” said Sean McCormack, CIO of First Student. “With HALO, we’re deepening our commitment to safe and reliable transportation by offering a platform that delivers powerful analytics, real-time insights, and a better experience for everyone — from drivers and dispatchers to school districts and parents. Receiving recognition from the Stevie Awards is a powerful testament to our team’s innovation impact, and commitment to continually improve our students’ transportation experience.”
This year, more than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and across virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in a diverse range of categories. More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners.
“Organizations across the United States continue to demonstrate resilience and innovation,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “The 2025 Stevie winners have helped drive that success through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all of the winners in the 2025 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 10 gala event in New York.”
The Stevie Award is a testament to First Student’s leadership in digital transformation and its commitment to redefining what’s possible in student transportation.
The Stevie Award is the latest in a growing list of accolades recognizing First Student’s leadership in digital transformation and innovation. The company’s HALO platform has also earned the Forrester Technology Strategy Impact Award, the T-Mobile Innovation in Customer Experience Award, and was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list. Together, these honors reflect the powerful momentum behind HALO and First Student’s bold vision to build the most advanced, reliable, and student-centered transportation network in North America.
About First Student
As the leading provider of K-12 transportation solutions, First Student ensures the safest and most reliable ride to school each day for 5.5 million students in communities across North America. With a team of highly trained drivers, the company is on track to complete 1 billion student trips during the 2024-25 school year. Recognized as one of Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies, First Student delivers a wide range of essential services, including home-to-school transportation, special needs transportation, fleet electrification, route optimization, maintenance, and charter services. The company’s focus goes beyond logistics by creating a positive, welcoming environment for students on each of its 45,000 buses. By continuously enhancing the transportation experience for students and families, First Student helps to ensure every child arrives at school ready to achieve their full potential.
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com.