Chapel Hill, N.C. – Moe’s Southwest Grill locations in the Triangle, in conjunction with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), have selected Lydia Bjorklund from Heritage High School in Wake Forest, N.C., Robby White of Cary High School in Cary, N.C., and Trent Wilson from Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C., as recipients of the Moe’s Hometown Hero award for the month of May.

The Moe’s Hometown Hero program offers a platform where school administrators, personnel, parents, students, and school community members can nominate deserving individuals for special recognition on a monthly basis during the school year. Individuals can be nominated as a Moe’s Hometown Hero for serving as a community role model and making a difference in the lives of the students and school, exhibiting sound citizenship and community service, excelling in academics and/or athletics (students) and/or positively impacting their peers. Currently, this platform is available to a targeted group of NCHSAA member high schools located within the Triangle area. Each recipient receives a commemorative award and a Moe’s Southwest Grill gift certificate.

Lydia Bjorklund is a student-athlete at Heritage High School where she excels academically and athletically for the Huskies. As a soccer player and advocate for the local community, Bjorklund started a special needs soccer group called Genome Giants.  This program provides special needs children with a day of soccer skill development.  She manages, coordinates and runs the program that provides a lighthearted and fun atmosphere for special needs kids to enjoy the sport she loves.  

Recipient Robby White is a first-year social studies teacher and coach at Cary High School. In addition to teaching, White serves as the assistant football coach and head JV Women’s Basketball coach for the Imps. “He always has a smile on his face for the students and players he challenges both on the court and in the classroom to strive for greatness,” nominator Patrick Daly of Cary High School said of White. “Robby has a bright future in the world of teaching and coaching.”

The final recipient of the May 2018 Moe’s Hometown Hero awards is Trent Wilson of Wakefield High School. Wilson currently serves as the Special Populations Coordinator, the head women’s track & field coach and assistant men’s basketball coach. He has held many roles in his almost 20 years at Wakefield High School and is regulary recognized by parents or former students. Nominator Garrett Stevens said, “You know he has made an impact…you can see the smile on faces, listen to the sharing of stories and know there is genuine care and concern present.” 

"The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, in conjunction with Moe’s Southwest Grill of the Triangle, is proud to honor and recognize Lydia Bjorklund, Robby White and Trent Wilson with the May 2018 Moe’s Hometown Hero awards,” said Que Tucker, commissioner of the NCHSAA. “Each of these winners has demonstrated a willingness to surpass what is expected of them to positively impact the lives of the students and their respective communities. It is their dedication to their communities that truly make them Hometown Heroes."

“We are honored to recognize these outstanding leaders in our community,” said Jennifer Wade, franchisee and president of the Moe’s Southwest Grill® Triangle Co-op. “. Moe’s is proud to support the Hometown Hero’s program, and we commend them on their continued dedication and leadership to the schools they support.”  

Moe’s Southwest Grill locations in the Triangle have joined together with the NCHSAA for 2018 as the Official Triangle Fast Casual Restaurant Partner to offer the Moe's Hometown Hero recognition program. 

Moe’s/FWV Contact: Leah Knepper Vice President, Public Relations 919-277-1176 lknepper@fwv-us.com

NCHSAA Contact:  James Alverson, Asst. Commissioner NCHSAA, Inc. 919-240-7367 james@nchsaa.org