CARSON CITY, Nev. – Diana Hollander, the Nevada Department of Education’s Director for Pupil Transportation, received the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence at the School Transportation News (STN) Expo in Reno last week.

“This award is a very fitting lifetime achievement award for Diana who has served the Department with distinction for the past 23 years,” said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Diana is passionate about school transportation and Nevada has been very lucky to have her ensure our students are transported safely.”

Hollander, based in Las Vegas, has announced that she will retire later this year.

“It is an honor to be recognized by your peers,” she said. “I’m also grateful that this award brings recognition to the Department of Education and Nevada and the great work we are doing to keep kids safe. It’s been a privilege to work at the Department of Education which supports national participation in the school bus industry.”

The Gandolfo Memorial Award is named for the former director of transportation for Chicago Public Schools who was also a board member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation. This award and the people who have received it help keep his memory alive, said his widow Linda Grandolfo.

“Peter’s passion was your passion, he loved school buses,” she said. Peter came to school transportation not through the school bus industry. His master’s degree was in physical science, so he came through it in in kind of a different way, through the education system.”

The STN Expo is a national convention held in Reno each year.