Family-Owned Hudson Valley Company Supports Culinary Institute of America Students
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (November 16, 2017) – Each year, LCS Facility Group awards up to four scholarships to students pursuing degrees at the Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premier culinary college. The recipients of the 2017-2018 LCS sponsored Giuseppe and Maria Lepore Scholarship are Gabriella St. George, Tera Turczyn and Olivia Almaviva.
“LCS is proud to salute these three outstanding CIA students who have been awarded the Giuseppe and Maria Lepore Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year,” said LCS Facility Group Owner Joe Lepore. “We are proud to continue our support of the CIA and the fine students who are destined to become the rock stars of tomorrow’s food world.”
LCS began its scholarship program in 2014 and has helped support eight Culinary Institute of America students in pursuit of their culinary degrees. The Giuseppe and Maria Lepore Scholarships are awarded annually to students pursuing an associate degree in culinary or baking and pastry arts with priority consideration given to students of first generation-Italian families who are studying internationally or have a need for financial support.
A total of four (4) $5,000 scholarships are awarded to students at the CIA’s Hyde Park, N.Y., San Antonio, T.X. and St. Helena, C.A. campuses.
“I feel very honored and proud to have received this award,” said Tera Turczyn, Class of 2017. “My mother is a single parent of quadruplets. As a result, I had little money saved for college and had to take out several loans. Being able to apply for scholarships and winning some helps me be able to put aside money to pay off all of my loans.”
Turczyn graduated from the CIA with an associate degree in baking and pastry arts on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Joe Lepore attended her graduation as a way to further support Turczyn in her future culinary endeavors.
“I work very hard in school to maintain a high GPA. I do this so I am eligible for scholarships, and so that I know that every penny we have paid this school is worth it to me,” said Olivia Almaviva, Class of 2018. “This scholarship will continue to give me more motivation to finish my semester strong, to finish with a higher GPA than I started with.”
Inspired by her family’s Italian heritage, Almaviva will be leaving for Italy in January 2018 where she will spend the semester studying abroad and is expected to graduate from the CIA with a bachelor’s degree in baking and pastry arts in July 2018.
Gabrielle St. George graduated from the CIA with a bachelor’s degree in applied food studies and Italian cuisine in July 2017, and is the Founder of Symbio Foods in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Prior to graduation, St. George spent a semester studying in Italy.
About LCS
As the preferred outsourcing partner, LCS Facility Group is an industry leader in providing the highest quality expertise, professional and full-service facilities maintenance, and specialty services to the commercial sector. LCS Facility Group’s services include cleaning and facility maintenance; landscaping and property maintenance; snow and ice removal; hospitality and stewarding services; specialty services and more. For additional information, visit: www.lcsfacilitygroup.com.