HIGH POINT, N.C. -- A North Carolina school bus manufacturer has given awards to several drivers for their work after student passengers wrote essays about them. High Point-based company Thomas Built Buses said Monday that driver Renea Cataldo of Trussville, Ala., was selected as winner of the Children's Choice Driver of the Year Essay Contest. Drivers Sam McBroom of Hillsborough and Sheree Cook, also from Trussville, were chosen as runners-up. The winning drivers were nominated by their student passengers in 90-word essays. The essays were later judged by representatives from the school transportation industry. Cataldo will receive a $1,000 gift card and the student who nominated her will receive a $1,000 education savings bond and a laptop. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)