Limestone school officials recognized shop foreman Brian Stovall on Thursday for winning the state’s best bus technician award. Clockwise, back left, are Darryl Adams, Stovall, school board vice chairman Earl Glaze and Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk.

ATHENS — Brian Stovall emerged as the state’s top school bus technician for the second straight year, advancing to nationals this fall in Kansas City, Missouri.

Stovall is entering his 10th year with the Limestone school system, serving as the shop foreman for the school bus garage. He traveled earlier this month to Montgomery’s Renaissance Hotel, where he successfully defended his state title.

Competitors are rotated through five maintenance categories — air conditioning, tires, starting and charging systems, bearings and breaks, and troubleshooting.

The Limestone school board presented him with a plaque Thursday, commemorating his two state championships, which were held in conjunction with the Alabama School Transportation Association’s annual state conference. At last year’s nationals in Seattle, Stovall placed seventh against 24 other state winners.

The National Association of Pupil Transportation is sponsoring the 11th America’s Best Technician Challenge. At least five previous winners hailed from the South, but Stovall is vying to become Alabama’s first national champion technician.