Lake Forest Park Star Student Champions Road Safety Program: Meet Tejus!

Patch Star Students,Patch Staff

Posted Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 8:57 am PT

Lake Forest Park, WA — Star Students are found in classrooms, on concert and theater stages and at debate lecterns, and out in the community doing good things to make life better for all of us.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize Star Students, and we’re working to tell the stories of these outstanding kids to their neighbors.

This submission comes from Jyotsna Anand Bhasin who nominated Tejus of Lake Forest Park, Washington.

Star local student’s name

Tejus

What grade is your star local student in?

4

How do you know the star local student?

He is my son

Why do you believe the star local student should be recognized?

Tejus is passionate about being an advocate for things that matter to him and those around him. He loves helping others and cheering them on, and has learned how to navigate driving change, too. As an example, he recently spent months petitioning and then presenting to our city mayor and the city council to improve road safety in our neighborhood. 

He started working on that cause because he recently learned that one of our close friends’ 10 year old son was killed in a road accident in North Carolina as he was scootering in his neighborhood. Tejus observed the same problem in our neighborhood and didn’t want such an incident to repeat. 

It was a 5-month long collaborative journey — one that Tejus initiated and championed, and brought several folks from our neighborhood along on. It started with a writing class at school, which he then converted to an online petition, printing and placing flyers in over 100 mailboxes, getting 80+ signatures and then getting invited to city hall to present to a live audience. 

We are so proud to see Tejus' passion and initiative, and sheer perseverance. Tejus’ conversation with the mayor resulted in the city recognizing the problem. conducting a speed study in our neighborhood and then finally adding speed monitors around our neighborhood. 

What stood out most for us is that despite being just 10 yrs old, he wanted to do something about an issue he heard us and the neighbors often talk about, and worked hand in hand with many of the folks around us and brought it to consequence.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the star local student?

Tejus has a true passion for improving things and making the world better for everyone

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Tejus!

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Know an outstanding student who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.