A display of love and respect created by a group of school bus drivers for a terminally ill colleague exemplifies the heart and passion behind this profession.
As Mike Hoekstra took a dream balloon ride with his wife and family, he was surprised with a heartfelt message from his colleagues who used 28 school buses to spell out “We love you,” creating a heart for love and “u” for you.
Rob Matthews, director of transportation for
Hudsonville Public Schools, says Hoekstra’s career demonstrates drivers' deep bond with their communities and the students they serve.
“The people who choose this line of work aren’t doing it for the money,” says Matthews, who has served as a bus driver and supervisor in multiple districts across Michigan. “They could get better hours and pay driving a straight truck, and the cargo doesn’t sass you back. But they take this job because they care about their community and the kids.”
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Courtesy Hudsonville Public SchoolsFrom where the Hudsonville Public School buses were parked, spelling out their special message, the hot air balloons could be seen taking off.
‘Grace and patience’
Hoekstra, who became a bus driver nearly a decade ago, making a mid-career shift,, has always gone the extra mile for his students, Matthews says. He built strong relationships, particularly with students at Riley Middle School and South Elementary School.
“Middle schoolers can be tough,” Matthews explains. “It takes a special kind of patience to work with kids who are still discovering themselves. But Mike’s grace and patience made a difference. He didn’t just show up to drive the bus; he knew his students. They knew him.”
Hoekstra, 49, has shown his passion for his job as he has battled fourth-stage colon cancer after his diagnosis two years ago. Though his illness forced him to take more sick days and time off, his dedication to the students remained unwavering.
“Even when he couldn’t drive every day, Mike’s students noticed when he wasn’t there,” Matthews says. “They cared about him, and when he returned, even tired and worn, their attitudes changed. They were genuinely happy to see him.”
Despite his health struggles, Hoekstra continued to make a difference in the lives of his students, even as he took on new routes with students who didn’t initially know him.
“They got to know him quickly,” Matthews says. “Mike didn’t just drive the bus; he knew what the kids were wrestling with, what excited them, what they cared about. That kind of relationship is what makes all the difference in this business.”
A dream voyage
Knowing his time was limited, Hoekstra expressed a simple wish: He wanted to take a hot air balloon ride with his wife and four children. When his family set up a
GoFundMe to raise $2,000 for the ride, the Hudsonville community stepped up in a way that no one expected.
“Last I heard, the GoFundMe had raised over $30,000,” Matthews says. “It shows how much Mike and his family mean to this community. He’s coached T-ball, worked with kids across the district, and invested in this community for years. People are stepping up to take care of him and his family, just like he took care of their kids.”
But the community wanted to do more than just raise money. Matthews and his team of bus drivers, led by Heidi DeZeeuw, came up with a plan to make this balloon ride extra-special.
“We’ve done bus parades before, but they’ve often been in memory of drivers who passed away,” Matthews says. “When we heard about the balloon ride, we saw it as an opportunity to do something different, something hopeful.”
The drivers decided to spell out "We Love You" using 28 buses from the district’s 72-bus fleet. Matthews loved the idea, but it came with logistical challenges. The buses had to be parked in a way that would be visible from the air, and they didn’t even know if the balloon would pass overhead.
“We had to figure out how to park the buses and where to set them up, depending on where the balloon would launch,” Matthews says. “We coordinated with Mike’s wife and the balloon pilot, but balloons don’t have engines. They go where the wind tells them.”
‘They’re here for me’
After some back-and-forth on launch locations, they secured permission to use the fairgrounds parking lot. The afternoon of the event, buses were still in use for school routes and field trips, but by evening, the team had the buses arranged in formation.
“A lot of credit goes to the mechanics,” Matthews says. “They told the drivers, ‘You get the buses here, and we’ll handle parking them in the right spots.’ One of our drivers had a son with a drone who volunteered to get aerial shots to make sure everything was set up perfectly.”
At 6:30 p.m., Hoekstra’s hot air balloon lifted off. Initially, the wind pushed the balloon east, away from the field where the buses were parked. Matthews heard murmurs of disappointment from the drivers as it became clear the balloon wouldn’t pass directly overhead.
But then, something magical happened.
“I saw an arm waving like crazy out of the basket,” Matthews says. “It was Mike. He saw us.”
Though the angle made it difficult for Hoekstra to read the message perfectly, he knew what it was.
“Those are school buses,” Hoekstra told Matthews the next day. “That’s my family, and they’re here for me.”
"He didn’t need to read it to know what it said,” Matthews says. “It was never about the buses or the words. It was about the relationships. When Mike joined this team nine years ago, he didn’t just take a job, he joined a family.”
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Courtesy Hudsonville Public SchoolsThe Hudsonville Public Schools bus crew.
A profession built on relationships
For Matthews, Hoekstra’s story underscores the dedication and heart that school bus drivers bring to their work, particularly in the face of a nationwide shortage. Across the country, school districts are struggling to find enough drivers to cover routes, but the people who choose this profession do so because of their commitment to their communities.
A survey conducted by the National Association for Pupil Transportation found that 51% of respondents described their shortage as "severe" or "desperate,” while 65% indicated that the bus driver shortage is their No. 1 issue. Many districts have had to reduce or alter services, with over 90% indicating changes to transportation in elementary, middle, and high schools.
The effort that Hoekstra’s colleague spent to make him feel appreciated embodies the deep community connections forged in this vital profession.
“Bus driving isn’t just a paycheck,” Matthews says. “People like Mike show us that it’s about relationships. These drivers care about their students, and they care about their community. Most of my drivers are retirees. They don’t do it for the money. They do it because they want to make Hudsonville a better place.”
As the Hudsonville community continues to rally around Hoekstra, the story of his tribute has become a testament to the power of connection and the impact one person can have on a community.
The photo of the buses spelling out "We Love You" has circulated widely on social media. While it shows Hoekstra’s colleagues' love for him, it also highlights what is special about the people who take up this profession.
“We’ll be there with Mike as long as he’s with us,” Matthews says. “Just like he’s always been there for us.”