Jeremiah Lee, a senior at Abington Senior High School and a second-year student at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology’s Culinary Arts program, was recently highlighted for Eastern’s Community Service Month.
On December 6, Lee received the United States Marine Corps Reserve Commander Award in recognition of his exceptional and dedicated service to Toys for Tots over the years.
From Eastern’s announcement:
His association with the Toys for Tots organization began at a young age, thanks to the involvement of his mother, Jennie Lee, and her coworker, Angie Dixon. Every year, he devoted numerous hours to collecting, sorting, and organizing the donated toys.
“Being recognized for something that is such a huge part of my life and that I love doing was amazing,” said Jeremiah. “I have been fortunate in my life. I know not every family has the means to surprise their children with the toys they most want. It feels incredibly rewarding to contribute to local families, bringing joy to their children during the holiday season.”
Jeremiah has a passion for cooking, nurtured since childhood by watching cooking demonstrations on YouTube. His father, a skilled home cook, had dreams of becoming a chef. Culinary Arts at EASTERN provides Jeremiah and his dad with a shared platform to explore and celebrate their mutual interest.
“If you’re attentive, you’ll discover community service opportunities everywhere,” said Jeremiah. “All it takes is finding the contact number and making that call. Kindness is incredibly significant.”
Cooking stands out as one of Jeremiah’s undeniable passions and skills, but alongside that, he holds a keen interest in sports and training. His future aspirations include attending a four-year college to pursue studies in sports medicine and training, all while actively participating in basketball. Simultaneously, he plans to continue working in the restaurant industry. Currently, he is considering potential options for his college journey and has already received scholarship offers from Youngstown University, Gannon University, Indiana State University, and Kutztown University for Basketball. Drawing inspiration from his brother, Jeremiah aims to emulate his path, specializing in training children in various sports.
“My family not only inspires me to strive for the best but also fosters my sense of community,” Jeremiah, the youngest among four boys, shared. “My mom, dad, and brothers consistently lift me up when I’m feeling down. They take care of me and always have my back.”
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Photo: Eastern