In fall 2020, the Local Learning Community Foundation formed a partnership with Renasant Bank and the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District and kicked-off an innovative program to highlight the enormous contributions of bus drivers to both school attendance and academic success. Among a large number of public school students, bus drivers make it possible for them to safely get to and from school each day. The “Driving Up Learning Stimulus Program” included the following: Bus Driver of the Month Awards; gift cards; and certificates of appreciation. To help drive up academic success, bus drivers of the month were allocated funding to provide educational material and/or tools (e.g., tablets, books, backpacks etc.) to a deserving student on their routes. A total of nine (9) bus drivers and nine students have or will receive awards between August 2020 and May 2021.