University of Iowa’s CAMBUS recognizes Michelle Sorto as the 2025 Support Person of the Year. The award was established by Cambus in 2019 to recognize the support staff who serve in behind-the-scenes roles to keep the transit system operating smoothly. Sorto is from the Chicago area and began working at Cambus as a bus operator in February 2022. She was promoted to student trainer in October 2023.
Sorto earned a BA double major in criminology, law, justice, and psychology in spring 2025. As a student trainer, Sorto assisted with developing, coordinating, and delivering training programs for new drivers. She provided coaching and mentoring to new drivers to help them be successful in the workplace and operate vehicles safely. She also delivered refresher training for existing employees.
In their selection of Sorto, the Cambus supervisor and management team noted her strong work ethic, and the quality and quantity of safety and training materials Sorto developed. Sorto has been instrumental in helping new employees succeed and have a sense of place at Cambus.
“I feel honored to have been selected for this award. The hours I have put in and the projects that I have made are seen and appreciated by my supervisors,” Sorto says.
Sorto is proud to contribute to the Cambus support system. She says her time at Cambus has helped provide a space for students to grow and learn.
The student-run environment at Cambus was also a confidence boost for Sorto. “My communication skills have vastly improved,” she says, "it's a great way to make friends, especially during clean-up shifts." Sorto's enthusiasm for learning and building new relationships helped new employees feel heard and seen within Cambus.
“It’s a great way to make friends especially during clean-up shifts.”
Sorto encourages incoming Cambus applicants to do it for the personal improvement. “There are flexible hours for you to make sure you have time for school,” she says, “Not everyone can say that they drive a 40-foot vehicle, which is always a fun fact to tell other people.”
Honorable Mentions
The selection committee also recognized the following drivers as honorable mentions for Support Person of the Year:
- Anna Blobaum, student mechanic
- Ryan Danker, dispatcher
About the Support Person of the Year award
To complement the annual Driver of the Year award, CAMBUS began selecting a Support Person of the Year in 2019. To be eligible for the award, employees in support positions must meet the same criteria as the Driver of the Year award, plus have served in a support role for the past year.
Criteria for award eligibility includes a clean work record, no attendance violations, and an excellent safety record. The Cambus management and student supervisor team evaluate the list of eligible candidates to select an overall award winner. The Cambus team looks at factors such as previous recognitions received throughout the year, feedback from other staff, and their contributions to creating an inclusive and positive workplace experience.
About CAMBUS
CAMBUS is the University of Iowa’s student operated, no fare public transit system that provides fixed-route service throughout campus and demand-response paratransit services for qualifying persons. On average, 160 student-employees operate transit services across the university campus. Their responsibilities begin with driving but can grow to include training, dispatching, assisting with maintenance, and supervising. Cambus works in collaboration with other Parking and Transportation Department units to provide and support access and mobility for students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. For more information about our services visit the CAMBUS page or call 319-335-8633.