At the Defiance Area Foundation, we believe every fund tells a story—and some stories leave a lasting flavor of love, passion, and purpose. The Erica J. Strausbaugh Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund was created to celebrate a young woman whose heart was in the kitchen and whose dreams were as bold as her recipes.
Erica Strausbaugh, a 1997 graduate of Tinora High School, always felt “at home” in the kitchen. Her joy came from cooking and baking for her family—experimenting with new dishes, perfecting cookie recipes, and filling her home with warmth and flavor. What began as a childhood passion soon became her professional dream.
In the summer of 1998, Erica took a pivotal step toward that dream by attending a Culinary Arts program at the Disney Institute, where she connected with Johnson & Wales University. Inspired and determined, Erica enrolled at Johnson & Wales in South Carolina, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2001—a milestone achievement that marked the start of a promising culinary journey.
Tragically, Erica passed away just three weeks after graduation.
Though her life was brief, her legacy continues to inspire. In 2007, the Strausbaugh family—led by her mother, Sue—opened Biggby Coffee in Erica’s memory. And through the Defiance Area Foundation, they established the Erica J. Strausbaugh Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund to ensure that Erica’s passion lives on in future generations of aspiring chefs.
Each year, this scholarship benefits a Defiance County high school senior pursuing a career in Culinary Arts, helping to turn dreams into reality—just as Erica once did.
This memorial fund is a beautiful example of how we can honor our loved ones by supporting the passions they held dear. Erica’s memory is not only preserved but shared—with every future student who enters a kitchen, stirs a pot, or creates something new, they carry a part of her story with them.
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Want to honor someone’s memory with purpose?
The Defiance Area Foundation can help you create a scholarship or memorial fund that reflects the life, love, and legacy of someone special. Visit www.defianceareafoundation.org or contact us today to learn how to begin.
