Student of the Month
This award is sponsored each month by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. This month, David Phillips was selected. He is a senior at Abington Senior High School and is being honored for his work in EASTERN’s Protective Services program.
About David:
· David has been a junior member of the Roslyn Fire Company for the past four years. Serving his community and being a role model that younger children can look up to are important to David. As a member of the Roslyn Fire Company, he enjoys participating in community activities such as bringing a fire truck to birthday parties and escorting Santa through neighborhood streets.
· After visiting EASTERN with his high school and attending an Open House during his tenth-grade year, David chose to enroll in the Protective Services program to broaden his knowledge across multiple public safety fields, including firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medical services.
· At EASTERN, David currently serves as the Sergeant for the Protective Services class and regularly volunteers his time at school and community events, including the Designer Bag Bingo fundraiser held last October.
· At Abington Senior High School, David is an active member of the First Responders Club.
· After graduating from EASTERN and Abington Senior High School, he plans to continue serving his community by working part-time with the Upper Moreland Fire Department while completing the additional certifications required to pursue a career in firefighting, including Firefighter 2, Vehicle Rescue Technician, and Emergency Vehicle Operator.
David’s accomplishments:
· On December 4, 2025, David proudly earned his Firefighter 1 certification through Bucks County Community College.
· Through the Protective Services program, he has also earned multiple industry-standard certifications, including CPR/AED, First Aid, several Incident Command System (ICS) certifications, and more.
· As a junior volunteer firefighter, David also assisted during the SPS Technologies fire last February and took photographs at the scene. While the incident was devastating for the community, it proved to be a valuable learning experience, allowing David to observe the chain of command in action during an active emergency response.
· At EASTERN’s Awards Night in May 2025, he was recognized with the Protective Service Achievement Award – Security.
This award is sponsored each month by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. This month, Gretchen Linn was selected. She is a senior at Springfield Township High School and is being honored for her work in EASTERN’s Welding Technology program.
About Gretchen:
· Gretchen’s older sister attended EASTERN for Veterinary Science and now studies at Delaware Valley University. Inspired by her sister’s experience, Gretchen became familiar with the many opportunities available at EASTERN.
· Choosing a program was easy for Gretchen. She has known since she was 14 years old that Welding Technology was the perfect fit for her future in Mechanical Engineering.
· She is an active EASTERN volunteer, providing Welding Technology demonstrations during the Open House and Career Expo, and assisting at EASTERN’s annual Designer Bag Bingo and Craft Fair.
· Gretchen is a member of EASTERN’s Women in Trades Club, led by Meghan Cicchino, Welding Technology Instructor. Last year, the club spoke to a group of female students in a STEM club at Keith Valley Middle School in Hatboro-Horsham.
· “Gretchen is smart, helpful, driven, and kind,” said Meghan Cicchino, Welding Technology Instructor. “She brings positive energy to the classroom and is always willing to assist with any school project.”
· After graduating from EASTERN and Springfield Township High School, she plans to attend Rutgers University, or University of Delaware for Mechanical Engineering.
Gretchen’s accomplishments:
· At EASTERN, Gretchen was elected as a School-Wide SkillsUSA Officer for the PM session, serving as Reporter.
· Through her Welding Technology program, she has earned the CareerSafe OSHA 10-Hour Training certification.
· At Springfield Township High School, Gretchen serves as Captain of the Varsity Water Polo team.
· At Springfield Township High School, she is a proud member of the National Honor Society
· At Springfield Township High School been recognized as both Student Athlete of the Month and Suburban One League Athlete of the Week.
This award is sponsored each month by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. This month, Lelia Johnson was selected. She is a senior at Cheltenham High School and is being honored for her work in EASTERN’s Robotics and Automated Technology program.
About Lelia:
· Lelia’s older sister, whom she admires, attended EASTERN for Construction Technology, and now enjoys a successful career. Because of her sister’s experience, Lelia has been aware of the many opportunities at EASTERN for years.
· Already an active member of Cheltenham High School’s Robotics Club, she found the Robotics and Automated Technology program at EASTERN to be the perfect fit for her when she visited EASTERN in 10th grade.
· As an EASTERN Student Ambassador and leader in her classroom, she frequently represents her program at recruitment events.
· At Cheltenham High School, Lelia is an active Student Council member on the Environmental Committee, Vice President of the Debate Club, Treasurer of the Black Scholars Program, and a member of the FIRST Robotics Club, among many other activities.
· “Lelia is an amazing student and role model in my class,” said Mr. Kyle Jacoby, EASTERN’s Robotics and Automated Technology Instructor. “She works hard, and her actions motivate other students. I am so proud that she received this honor.”
· After graduating from EASTERN and Cheltenham High School, she plans to attend the Aviation Institute of Maintenance program in Philadelphia — an 18-month course that will prepare her for her Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license, a globally recognized certification for aircraft mechanics who maintain and repair both the structural parts of an aircraft and its engine systems. After earning her license, she plans to enter the workforce as an aircraft technician. She envisions her career taking her to Connecticut or Vermont and looks forward to traveling extensively in the future.
Lelia’s accomplishments:
· As a junior, Lelia received the Straight A Award at EASTERN’s Awards Night in May 2025.
· She interviewed for and was selected as a paid intern for summer of 2025 with EASTERN’s Facilities Department, where she assisted with various school maintenance projects
· Outside of school, she founded the STEM Queens group at the Elkins Park Library, where she leads workshops designed to inspire students to explore STEM fields.
This award is sponsored each month by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. This month, Karley Bunkin was selected. She is a senior at Springfield Township High School and is being honored for her work in EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program.
About Karley:
· When Karley visited EASTERN in 10th grade, she was torn between Culinary Arts, Collision Repair Technology, and Welding Technology. After some thought, she realized Culinary Arts was the best fit for her. Learning about the SkillsUSA leadership organization and the competitions available to students confirmed that EASTERN was the right place for her.
· At Springfield Township High School, she is a member of the Ski and Snowboard Club and the National Art Honor Society.
· Outside of school, Karley volunteers with Whosoever Gospel Mission in Philadelphia and works part-time as a food prep at the William Penn Inn in Gwynedd.
· “Karley is deeply dedicated to both the culinary field and to EASTERN,” said Chef Ben Vozzo, EASTERN’s Culinary Arts Instructor. “She’s always ready to volunteer for school events and never hesitates to lend a hand to her peers in the kitchen. I’m proud of her drive and ambition, and I look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish in the future.”
· After graduating from EASTERN and Springfield Township High School, she plans to attend the Culinary Institute of America to study Food Business, with the goal of eventually owning her own small business or working in international food export.
Karley’s accomplishments:
· This year, Karley was elected by her peers as the SkillsUSA AM Session President .
· As a junior, she received the prestigious Director’s Award, the Culinary Arts Junior Award, and the Straight A Award at EASTERN’s Awards Night in May 2025.
· She earned the silver medal in the Job Skill Demonstration competition at the SkillsUSA State Conference in April 2025, where she impressed judges with her signature chocolate chip cookies.
· Over the summer, Karley returned to EASTERN to deliver an impressive presentation on implementing a hydroponics system for the Culinary Arts program. Her presentation highlighted the educational benefits of the system, its potential to provide fresh, sustainable ingredients for classroom use, and the long-term cost savings it could bring to the school. Implementation of this system is something that is now being seriously considered by EASTERN’s Administrative team.
This award is sponsored each month by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee, and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. This month, Amira Banks was selected. She is a senior at Cheltenham High School and is being honored for her work in EASTERN’s Exercise Science and Rehabilitation program.
About Amira:
· Amira has had a passion for sports since the age of six, participating in track, volleyball, and soccer. As a dedicated athlete competing in Varsity Track and Field for Cheltenham High School and participating in Club Track and Field, she has gained a deep understanding of the vital role physical therapy plays in helping athletes recover and reach peak performance. With aspirations of becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Amira attended EASTERN’s Open House after learning about the Exercise Science and Rehabilitation program. She found the program to be a strong fit for her interests and a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and strengthen her resume.
· At Cheltenham High School, she is part of the Black Scholars Program and is a member of the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) program, which helps students develop business skills and leadership qualities.
· “Amira is a leader in the classroom and is always willing to support her classmates whenever needed,” said Mrs. Shelley Helm, EASTERN’s Exercise Science and Rehabilitation Instructor. “Her patience and strong communication skills are valuable assets, and I look forward to seeing all she will accomplish during her senior year.”
· After graduating from EASTERN and Cheltenham High School, Amira plans to attend the University of Delaware to pursue a six-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. She hopes to work with athletes in both clinical settings and sports environments, with a particular interest in helping younger athletes reach their full potential.
Amira’s accomplishments:
· As a junior at EASTERN, Amira was selected by her instructor for a Black History Month Student Spotlight.
· She has obtained industry-standard certifications through her Exercise Science and Rehabilitation program such as CPR and OSHA-10.
· At Cheltenham High School, in addition to being an honor roll student and outstanding athlete, Amira volunteered at Cedarbrook Middle School during volleyball and track seasons to assist the middle school athletes in developing their skills. This experience helped her strengthen her communication and coaching abilities while sharing positive sports experiences with younger students.