Westlake High School instructor Candace Wilson received the 2023 Community Outreach Award from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ).

The national award recognizes a culinary/hospitality program or individuals making a positive impact in their community via outreach programs such as food banks, recycling efforts, skill development for the disadvantaged and other services.

Westlake High School opened its doors 14 years ago and, coincidentally, that is when Wilson began a paper and cardboard recycling program. Fast forward to 2023 and the program is still going strong with support from the community and students Wilson teaches.

Recycling bins specifically designed for paper and cardboard are conveniently located in front of the school for the community and throughout the school for students and staff. Wilson’s students regularly collect the materials, clean the bins and ready it to be distributed to GreenFiber, who turns the material into blown-in cellulose insulation.

Click here to go back to the 2023 CAFÉ award recipients list.