On Wednesday, February 24, 2026, at the Fremont Union High School District Office, Cupertino High School’s Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program was formally recognized by the district Board of Trustees for its continued efforts to promote active transportation and student leadership on campus.
In attendance at the meeting were SR2S Coordinators Birgit Werner and Chelsea Biklen; CHS SR2S advisor Steven Puccinelli; CHS SR2S student representatives Raashi Sachdeva and Anushree Misra; juniors Ishan Khosla (who is also a Walk Bike Cupertino Board Member) and Armaan Sharma; and parent volunteer Babi Thapa.
The recognition highlighted years of student-driven work aimed at making it easier, safer, and more exciting for students to bike, walk, and roll to school.
In his introduction, CHS Assistant Principal David Irwin spoke about the wide range of initiatives SR2S has led this year. He pointed to popular events such as Don’t Drive for Donuts, which rewards students for choosing active transportation, free bike repair events that make biking more accessible, and the recent Mini Bike Fest that brought together education and hands-on activities. He also emphasized the group’s success in securing over $20,000 in grants to help fund these programs.
Don’t Drive for Donuts event in 2025
Much of that work has been led by myself, Raashi Sachdeva, and Anushree Misra, who were recognized for being on the front lines of event planning and grant writing. Our families were proud that we were recognized for our leadership in helping expand the program’s reach and impact across campus. Juniors Ishan Khosla and Armaan Sharma were also acknowledged as the next generation of leaders who will continue the momentum when the seniors graduate later this year.
Board of Trustees President Stanley Kou formally presented the certificate of recognition to the team and to SR2S advisor Assistant Principal Steven Puccinelli. In his remarks, Kou reflected on his personal experience with the program, specifically highlighting the Bike Bus event.
Tino’s Bike Bus, held during freshman orientation, invites incoming students to participate in a guided group ride to campus, helping them become familiar with safe routes to school while building community. Kou shared that he had the opportunity to welcome students on campus during the event and spoke about how meaningful it was to see students starting high school in such an active and positive way.
The recognition at the board meeting was not just about a single event or a single year of work. It represented the collective effort of student leaders, supportive administrators and city staff, and a school community committed to making active transportation part of CHS culture. The acknowledgment serves as both a celebration of what SR2S has already accomplished and an affirmation that the work happening on campus is making a measurable difference for students each day.