2023 was a tough year for our Two Chefs awards. So many great essays to choose from! We decided to expand our scholarships this year. Steve used to work at OCM BOCES and that is where we have been giving out our awards for the last few years. We recently learned that Kris graduated from Orange-Ulster BOCES Culinary program so we have decided to start giving a scholarship there as well! This year we have 3 winners! How exciting is that? Katayshia Rogers loves to bake with her family. Her goal is to spread happiness and love around the world. We love this quote from her essay “I always think back to the movie “Lilo and Stitch” and I think of the scene where Stitch talks about “Ohana” which means family, and “family is forever”. No one is left behind; we help each other reach our goals and now it’s my time to shine”. Preston Tedford was inspired by Sunday breakfasts with his grandmother. When he cooks it brings back those memories for him. He will be continuing to the Culinary Institute of America and hoping to possibly become a private chef or a yacht chef. Chloe Spencer is from a family with a long history in the culinary arts, and they have all inspired her to follow in their footsteps. Chloe has learned to really observe in order to learn her skill. She is attending SUNY Cobleskill and ner goal is to open her own restaurant using local sustainable ingredients, and to help feed the needy.
Chloe Spencer & FamilyInstructor Robert Canorro & Preston Tedford
L to R, Nancy Chappell, Arianna Thompson, Andrea Gerrick and Culinary Arts instructor Robert Canorro
We are so excited to announce the winners of the 2022 Two Chefs from Above Memorial Scholarship! We have 2 again this year!
We loved both of these young ladies so much we couldn’t pick just one, this seems to be a trend!
Congratulations to Arianna Thompson and Andrea Gerrick!!!!
L to R, Nancy Chappell, Arianna Thompson, and Robert Canorro
Arianna’s dream was to become a pastry chef and receive her education at the Culinary Institute of America, she is now pursuing that dream! She wants to graduate with her Bachelor’s degree in Food Business management with a core focus in baking and pastry arts. She hopes to open her own bakery and possibly a restaurant someday!
L to R, Nancy Chappell, Andrea Gerrick and Robert Canorro, Culinary Arts instructor
Andrea always loved baking with her grandmother and knew at a young age that this is what gives her joy. She is attending Niagara Falls Culinary Institute and hopes to open her own bakery someday with many types of cakes, as cake decorating is her passion.
Congratulations to both of our winners and we can’t wait for you to bring your crafts back to Central New York!
We are so excited to announce the winners of the 2021 Two Chefs from Above Memorial Scholarship! Yes I said winners! We loved both of these young ladies so much we couldn’t pick just one!! Congratulations to Alyssah Lanning and Ahren Walters!!!! Alyssah loves to bake, and her dream is to become a professional Pastry Chef and open her own bakery someday. Ahren’s goal is to continue with refining her cooking skills, and one day open her own cafe. We expect some great, and yummy, things from our winners! Let’s hear some noise for these girls!!!!!!!
Nancy Chappell presents $1000 2021 scholarship check to Alyssah Lanning
Nancy Chappell presents $1000 2021 scholarship check to Ahren Walters
Both of our 2021 Scholarship recipients received a plaque, and Two Chefs From Above items to take to college.
Two Chefs From Above has been awarded a $2,000 grant from Upstate Shredding Inc. A BIG thank-you to CNY Tuesdays, Upstate shredding and Adam & Clover Weitsman
Tyler is a graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School, and OCM BOCES Culinary Arts program. He was nominated for the $1000 Two Chefs From Above Culinary Arts Scholarship award by his teacher, Robert Canorro. Here are Tyler’s comments.
Tyler Howland
I always loved cooking, since I was 10 years old and I started helping my dad while he was in the kitchen. So when sophomore year came, and they showed BOCES, I decided that I wanted to go to BOCES for the Culinary Program. That just made me more interested in cooking, and being a chef, so I looked forward to go to BOCES every day and help the rest of the class because they came to me before they went to the teachers. Then Senior year came, and I was nominated for the National Technical Honor Society and decided I was going to join the Navy as a Culinary Specialist, but still wanted to go to college which would be the Culinary Institute Of America, so I went to a recruiter and talked with them but they wouldn’t help with college tuition so I decided I was going to go to college first then after college I will go in as an officer and active duty. I feel so sorry for the loss (of Steve & Kris) but think it’s an amazing way to remember them with the Scholarship. Thank You!
Tyler Howland receives the First Annual Two Chefs From Above Culinary Arts Scholarship
AS of May 1, 2020 – We are now an Official 501(c)3 not for profit organization in the state of New York!
We look forward to doing much more good in Steve & Kris’ memory.
Contributions to “Two Chefs from Above” can be made by clicking the button above. Two Chefs From Above, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Donna Farchione, owner of Breathe yoga approached us wanting to do a kindness class on Thanksgiving morning (11/21/2019) to honor our Two Chefs. It was the first time a kindness class has sold out! The room was full from wall to wall with great energy. It was a beautiful morning and we really felt the love and gratitude of our community. Thank you for the generous donation from all.
Applebee’s reached out to us because they wanted to help, but as a corporate company they could not participate in the Community Dine Out. Instead, they held a “Feeding with Flapjacks” breakfast on 9/28/19, the day before what would have been Steve’s 39th birthday. Nancy’s OCM BOCES students & co-workers made gift baskets to raffle off as well. Successful morning indeed!
On 9/14/18, the first anniversary of the last shift that our Two Chefs worked, we asked local restaurants to donate a portion of their proceeds for that evening to the Two Chefs fund with the Central New York Community Foundation. The response was amazing! Not only did we have 14 restaurants participate, but many personal donations as well. We hope to start a new tradition in the Syracuse area to continue to honor Steve & Kris, and help the community that they loved.
