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EASTERN Alumni Spotlight: Reyna Rodriguez, Culinary Arts

Reyna Rodriguez, a 2022 graduate of Abington Senior High School and the Culinary Arts program at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (EASTERN), has seamlessly transitioned her refined skills into a new and exciting industry: esthetics. Leveraging the people skills, time management expertise, and business acumen she honed at EASTERN, Reyna is thriving in her journey as an esthetician, proving that the foundation built at EASTERN can lead to success across diverse career paths.

Reyna Rodriguez's love for cooking was ignited at a young age, spending countless cherished moments in the kitchen alongside her grandmother. She began her culinary journey by baking brownies, cupcakes, and cornbread, eventually expanding her repertoire to cooking full meals for herself. "Choosing Culinary Arts was an easy decision for me because cooking had always been a passion of mine," Reyna shared. Her passion only deepened during her time at EASTERN, where she continued the Culinary Arts program into her senior year. "Chef Vozzo gave me incredible confidence and motivation to pursue my goal at the time—becoming a chef." Reyna credits this pivotal experience with laying the foundation for her future success.

After graduating from EASTERN and Abington Senior High School, Reyna Rodriguez began her career as a server at Yard House in Willow Grove. During this time, she discovered a deep passion for skincare and overall wellness, inspiring her to pursue a new path. In September 2023, Reyna earned her esthetician license and quickly secured a position at European Wax Center, where she has been thriving in her new career. In addition to her work, she has enrolled in a liberal arts program to further her education, with plans to continue her studies in dermatology. Reyna’s ultimate goal is to become either a Dermatologist or a Physician’s Assistant.

“I am not surprised by Reyna’s determination and drive,” said Chef Ben Vozzo. “As a Culinary Arts student at EASTERN, she demonstrated dedication to learning and continuous improvement. She works incredibly hard to achieve her goals. Career and technical education is designed to prepare students for both careers and/or further education, and in Reyna’s case, she has successfully applied the valuable skills she gained in the program to pursue her new aspirations.”

Build your culinary skills and techniques at EASTERN so you can compete in this field. Students also have the potential to earn up to nine transferable college credits through a statewide articulation agreement with Montgomery County Community College, and dual enrollment in partnership with Pennsylvania College of Technology.   Learn more about EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program at  https://www.eastech.org/programs/explore-our-programs/culinary-arts.