Juanita High School (JHS) senior Koumudi Thanda received the 2021 Lee Johnson Student Community Service Award. Brett Johnson and Kendra Rodland, JHS college & career guidance specialist, presented the award during the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce luncheon in December. The award recognizes a student leader with exemplary community service while demonstrating achievement in areas of academics and extracurricular activities. 

Koumudi is president of her school’s National Honor Society, volunteers for Bloodworks Northwest and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, and is a teen volunteer manager at education non-profit Balanandam. Fun fact, Koumudi also holds a mark recognized by the Guinness World Records for participating in the largest Kuchipudi group dance performance “Maha Brinda Natyam.”

In her nomination application, Kendra Rodland wrote: “Koumudi is dedicated, driven and an overcomer. She never lets an obstacle stand in the way of her goals and even in the midst of hardship, she still desires to give back to the community. Koumudi will achieve what she puts her mind to and will be successful. It has been a joy to get to know her. She is marked by her gratitude, humility and talent. She is truly deserving of this award...”

The award includes a $1,000 scholarship that Koumudi can use towards any institution she attends after high school and an additional $1,000 donation to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation.