Eastern Center For Arts & Technology Unveils New Award Named For Father Of Student

WILLOW GROVE, PA — The Eastern Center For Arts & Technology has announced a new community award named in honor of the deceased father of an automotive student at the Willow Grove-based school.

The award is named for Brian Pisch, the father of 2017 Automotive Technology graduate R.J. Panella.

The family of Pisch, who passed away last May, wanted to start an award that would keep Pisch's memory alive while helping to assist an Eastern Automotive Technology senior as he or she pursues higher education, according to Eastern.

The school said that Pisch shared his son's interest in the skilled trades, especially cars and motorcycles, and that the family selected Eastern for the award because of the "positive impact EASTERN's Automotive Technology had on RJ's future," the school said in a news release. "As parents, they valued the positive influence that Mr. [George] Stahl, EASTERN's Automotive Technology instructor, made on their son's life."

Cathleen Plesnarski, the executive director at Eastern, said the school was grateful to the Pisch family for its desire to support a graduating Automotive Technology senior.

"We are honored to be part of Mr. Pisch's legacy going forward," Plesnarski said in a statement.

Eastern offers a two-year career training program in automotive technology to those students interested in pursing work in the auto field.

Eastern offers career-oriented education to students in the following eastern Montgomery County communities: Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland.