LWSD students host first-ever 2050 Sustainability Transportation Design Conference

Students from across Lake Washington School District came together on March 21 for the inaugural 2050 Sustainability Transportation Design Conference, held in the Council Chamber at Kirkland City Hall. Organized by student leaders Jai Bindlish and Layla Kaim of Tesla STEM High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club, along with students from other local school districts and the Sustainability Ambassadors Organization, the event brought together participants from Redmond, Interlake, Eastlake, Tesla STEM, Juanita, Lake Washington and Skyline high schools. The conference marked a unique, student-led collaboration focused on shaping the future of transportation in local communities.

During the event, teams of three to six students were challenged to develop and present solutions to real-world transportation issues in Sammamish, Kirkland, Bellevue and Redmond. With about an hour to prepare, students used a prompt provided to them to guide their work before delivering final pitches. Industry professionals, including representatives from city councils and transportation organizations, served as coaches and judges, offering guidance throughout the process.

The conference provided students with opportunities to strengthen their public speaking, learn more about sustainable design and practice their networking skills, while engaging directly with professionals in the field. As the first annual competition of its kind, the event emphasized the growing importance of sustainability in transportation planning and encouraged students to explore innovative, community-focused solutions. The collaboration between multiple schools and organizations highlighted the district’s commitment to experiential learning and career-connected education.