Eastern Grad Establishes Culinary Award in Mom's Memory

A top-notch Eastern culinary arts student could cook up $500 toward his or her food-preparing future through a new memorial award that a graduate established in honor of his late mother. 

The Sandy Woerner Memorial Award will be presented annually at Eastern’s awards night to a graduating culinary arts student with an “A” average, no more than three absences, and with immediate plans to continue in the culinary field, either in college or in the workforce. 

The idea for the award was born when 2013 Eastern Center for Arts and Technology graduate Stephen Woerner, a recipient of the Christopher Laroche Memorial Award, along with his father Robert, spoke with the Laroche family, who lost their son Christopher, an Abington High School/Eastern culinary arts graduate, in 2008. 

Stephen and Robert decided to establish the Sandy Woerner Memorial Award for a graduating culinary arts student who will be continuing his or her culinary education in college or has already obtained a job in the culinary field. Sandy Woerner, Stephen’s mother, died on June 18, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. 

Stephen chose culinary arts at Eastern due to his love of cooking and creating meals. He plans to complete two years at Montgomery County Community College, and later attend Temple University for Hotel and Restaurant Management. 

“Sandy loved the fact that Stephen had chosen a field of study, and had the strong desire to follow through with that field,” Robert said in a press release. “Stephen is a hard worker and achieves the goals he sets for himself, and I know that Sandy would have been beaming with pride at her son’s achievements.” 

For friends and family who would like to donate to the annual Sandy Woerner Memorial Award, please make checks payable to “The EASTERN Foundation” indicating “Sandy Woerner Memorial Award” in the note section. Checks can be sent to the EASTERN Foundation at 3075 Terwood Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090. All contributions made to the EASTERN Foundation are tax deductible.