Student returns money he found on his school bus

Luis Villa didn't think twice when he found a $5 bill on the bus seat next to him.

Rather than keeping the money, Luis, a fourth-grader at Peninsula Elementary School in Moses Lake, wanted to find out who lost the cash. That is what he told his mother when he arrived home that day, and his teacher, Mrs. Preston, the next day.

"Luis asked Mrs. Preston what would happen if all the kids said, 'it's mine, it's mine,'" said Adela Moreno, the school secretary.

Mrs. Preston suggested Luis give the money to bus driver LeRoy Gierke and Mr. Gierke would not let anyone know how much money was found and that he would see to it the person who lost the $5 would get it back.

Which is what happened.

"Luis says he feels good and happy that the money was returned to the person who lost it," Moreno said. "This is the first time he ever found anything."

Luis said he has always known that whenever you find something that does not belong to you, you are supposed to give it to your teacher.

Last week, Luis was rewarded for his good deed: John Eschenbacher, Moses Lake School District transportation manager, and Mr. Gierke presented Luis with a Good Citizen's Award. Eschenbacher also presented Luis with a special bus key chain that lights up and is given only to students who earn the Transportation Citizen's Award. In addition, he received a $10 gift certificate to McDonald's.

"Peninsula School is very proud of Luis," Moreno said.

Editor's note: The staff at the Columbia Basin Herald is equally proud of Luis and thank him for his integrity and example of good citizenship to his fellow students. ~ Mary Powell, managing editor