Mike and Kristy Seastrom are a husband and wife team who drive for Tri State Motor Transit of Joplin, Mo. and have been part of the Trucker Buddy organization and writing to their class for six years. Their teacher, Emily Schmucker teaches a class of students with special needs in grades 4, 5, and 6 at Walnut Creek
Elementary School in Walnut, Ohio. Throughout the years,
the Seastrom’s and her classes have formed a special
bond because the students are in her class for three years,
therefore, Mike and Kristy get to correspond with them year
after year.

“They have always gone above and beyond the
requirements and surpass my expectations every year.
Not only do we receive constant postcards from coast to
coast weekly, but also each month the students look
forward to an over-sized envelope packed with personal
postcards with letters written to each one of the kids with
personal reactions and responses from the letters they
write to Mike and Kristy.  It means so much to know that
they sit down and take the time to reply to the students
personally” says Ms. Schmucker. 

The Seastrom’s also send packages with photos of their
recent trips and holiday packages of goodies for the
students. The students enjoy an occasional email and
photo attachment from Mike and Kristy as well. Quite
possibly the most notable effort is the Trucker Buddy Activity Book written and illustrated by Mike. This is a published and copyrighted book that includes educational and fun activities ranging from "Identify the Sign" to "Nick-Names on the CB" to "Time Zone Challenge." Mike and Kristy have made the drive to Ohio five times throughout the years to visit us in Walnut Creek. They usually spend the day and enjoy lunch with us and allow the students to explore their truck. The relationships and knowledge gained through the years of corresponding with Mike and Kristy have been a priceless gift, one that deserves to be recognized.

Some of the comments from the students include:

They are the best Trucker Buddies ever.  They go overboard with post cards and send us gifts every year.

At the end of the year they come to our school and answer questions.  It is cool.

They send us souvenir stuff from all around the U.S.  Some times they send us books on different states. For Christmas they sent us an activity book they wrote and printed for us.