A student at Utah State University (USU) in Logan received an unexpected surprise last week when she was greeted by USU President Stan Albrecht as she stepped off an Aggie Shuttle bus.

Jordan Earley, a finance major, was told by Albrecht that she was the 850,000th passenger of the 2008-09 school year. Albrecht presented her with a plaque signifying the landmark and a $50 gift card to the campus bookstore.

Alden Erickson, supervisor of bus operations, said the award was suggested by Andy Hofmeister, USU’s auxiliary marketing director. It was based on a similar recognition program at a local transit property. “We kicked it around for a while and thought, ‘Why not?’ Erickson said. “It’s a good way to get the word out to the public.”

The Aggie Shuttle, a branch of USU’s Parking and Transportation Department, provides more than 900,000 rides each school year and is hoping to reach 1 million riders this academic year. “It’s going to be real close,” Erickson said. “If not, then we have a good goal for next year.”

Erickson said the event also helped the Aggie Shuttle highlight its achievements in sustainability. Use of alternative-fuel buses (nine are powered by CNG and the other is a diesel model) has helped to reduce carbon emissions, Erickson said. The buses also curtail the use of automobiles by faculty, staff and students.