The evolving Transportation Department for Lake Shore School District was crowned another jewel this month as Head Bus Garage Technician, Ryan Waters, was named a “Garage Star” for Student Transportation News.

Waters has worked with the Lake Shore transportation department since 2010 and climbed the ranks with the ever-expanding transportation developments.

“The electric busses are a whole new animal for us,” Waters said. “Short of being a dealer mechanic, it is almost like being an electrician. We are learning more every day.”

Currently, LSCSD has two buses in their electronic fleet with a projected 21 to be added.

The new technology of E-Buses excites Waters, who came from a background of working with diesel engines at a local dealership.

“I actually got my start in the BOCES Automotive Program,” Waters reflected. But, things have certainly changed since Waters’ time learning to fix diesel-powered engines.

“It (E-Buses) is a step forward. New York state is changing the laws so, luckily for us, we are able to be at the beginning of the line to change over. It is a good step forward.”

According to Lake Shore’s Director of Transportation, Perry Oddi, Waters has achieved a 100 percent NYS DOT pass rate for the last fiscal year.

“He is a wealth of resources and knowledge,” Oddi remarked. “The most important thing is that he not only tells drivers and attendants just why things work but, how they work.”

This achievement for Waters has never been awarded before for a Lake Shore Transportation Department member and is announced on an annual basis by Student Transportation News. Over 100 applicants were nominated for the award and Waters was a Top 10 finalist.

“It was nice,” Waters said. “I have never had any recognition like this before. To get recognized for something like that is nice, it put a smile on my face! It was quite the surprise.”