11 Feb On Saturday, January 24th, Lasya, a 12th grader at TEECS, participated in a statewide AI Hackathon at the Montgomery Innovation Hub.
The event, focused on the theme of “How can we make New Jersey more affordable?”, brought together over 175 students from across the state to ideate and pitch solutions using generative AI tools.
We are thrilled to share that Lasya’s proposal, Universal Transit Reform, was selected as one of only six winning concepts recognized for innovation, feasibility, and potential impact.
About Lasya’s Winning Project:
Lasya proposed a strategic reform to abolish all NJ Transit transfer fees, which could save multi-leg commuters up to $720 annually. Her unique solution suggested funding the program entirely through corporate taxes on companies with profits exceeding $10M, ensuring zero cost to the general taxpayer. Her work highlighted a “hidden transfer tax” that disproportionately affects working families switching between buses and trains.
We are incredibly proud of Lasya for representing TEECS so well on a statewide stage and for her commitment to solving real-world challenges facing New Jersey.