Jordan Shanks (middle), a junior at West Union, was recognized by the Ohio State Highway Patrol at the ACOVSD School Board meeting on August 25. Shanks received a certificate for his calmness and bravery while assisting other students on his bus following an accident on the morning of May 14, 2025. (Photo by Ryan Applegate)
By Ryan Applegate
People’s Defender
At the August 25 meeting of the Adams County Ohio Valley School District Board, a moment of recognition cut through the routine business of the evening. The Ohio State Highway Patrol presented 17-year old Jordan Shanks with its Certificate of Recognition, honoring his courage and composure during a frightening school bus crash earlier this year. The award, signed by Director of Public Safety Andy Wilson and Superintendent of the Highway Patrol Colonel Charles Jones, underscored how extraordinary Jordan’s actions were in the eyes of the state.
The incident occurred on May 14, 2025, just after 6:30 a.m., when a school bus traveling along State Route 125 in Adams County veered off the right side of the road. The bus struck a culvert and embankment before coming to rest with disabling damage. Inside, the driver and 13 of the 16 students on board sustained injuries. Among them was Jordan, who suffered a shoulder injury. Even as pain set in, Jordan quickly realized that younger students needed help. He kept his head, guided them calmly, and assisted them in safely exiting the wrecked bus.
An officer from the Georgetown Post of the Highway Patrol, speaking at the school board meeting, recounted the details of the crash and made clear why Jordan stood out. “Despite being injured, Jordan took the initiative to assist younger students in exiting the school bus. For his ability to remain calm during a stressful situation, he is hereby awarded the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Certificate of Recognition,” the officer said. He added that Jordan’s quick actions provide an example for others to follow, whether in small everyday choices or in true moments of crisis.
For Jordan’s parents, Bobbie Jo and Lorenzo Shanks, the recognition has been both moving and humbling. “He tries to say that it really wasn’t a big deal,” Bobbie Jo said, reflecting on her son’s modesty. “But if it wasn’t for him, those little kids on that bus would have been really hysterical. He kept them calm.” Lorenzo echoed her pride, describing his son’s nature as selfless. “He would literally take his shirt off and give it to you if you needed it. That’s Jordan.”
Both parents said that while they were surprised by the attention, they were not surprised by Jordan’s willingness to help. They described him as the kind of young man who looks out for others without needing recognition. “I’m so proud of that boy,” Bobbie Jo said, her voice full of emotion.
When asked about the crash, Jordan himself was characteristically reserved. He recalled that he had his head down in his seat when the impact jolted him awake. “Next thing I noticed, everyone’s freaking out,” he said. He did not dwell on his own injury, only mentioning matter-of-factly that his shoulder was hurt. What mattered to him, he explained, was that as the oldest student on the bus, he felt it was his responsibility to look after the younger ones. “My mom raised me to always help people,” Jordan said. “I can take the pain. I just dealt with it. All I really wanted to do was get the kids off.”
That instinct to step forward, even when hurting, is something that has now been noticed by his peers, his teachers, and the younger students he helped. Many of them will likely carry the memory of Jordan’s actions for years to come. When asked how it feels to know that others will remember him in this way, Jordan paused before admitting, “Honestly, I don’t know. It feels kind of weird, to be honest.”
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s certificate detailed the events of that morning, including the injuries and the fact that everyone involved was treated and released from the hospital. But beyond the official language, the award represents something personal—a community’s gratitude for a young man who kept calm when it mattered most.
The officer presenting the award reminded those gathered that acts of service, whether large or small, build stronger communities. He encouraged everyone to take inspiration from Jordan’s example, whether it’s by helping a neighbor, reporting unsafe conditions, or simply staying calm in stressful situations. For Jordan, those words may feel larger than life, but to those on the bus that day, his actions spoke volumes.
In the end, what happened on State Route 125 was a frightening ordeal. But out of that morning came a reminder of the character and quiet bravery found in Adams County’s youth. Jordan Shanks, a 17-year old junior, showed that leadership is not always about titles or recognition. Sometimes, it is about rising to the moment when others need you most. And though he may brush off the praise, his community, his school district, and even the State of Ohio have made sure his actions will not be forgotten.
