Columbus Academy’s Alumni Board welcomed our Class of 2025 into the CA Alumni Association during a recent luncheon that also honored Avishar Barua ’05 as this year’s Young Alumni Award recipient.
“I was not the conventional Academy student,” Avishar told the seniors and Alumni Board members assembled inside The Estate at New Albany on April 22. “Even though my first name starts with an A and my last name ends with an A, I never saw one of those in all of my 13 years at Academy.”
After graduating from Columbus Academy, Avishar majored in biology at Ohio State and then was admitted to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America but chose instead to attend Columbus Community College’s culinary program. From there he trained in elite New York kitchens like WD~50 and Mission Chinese Food before returning to Columbus to open Service Bar. Avishar’s creativity and skill eventually landed him in Food & Wine, “Top Chef” and a victorious “Beat Bobby Flay” episode. In 2022, he launched award-winning local restaurants Joya’s and Agni.
In his acceptance speech, the two-time James Beard Award semifinalist encouraged the largest graduating class in Academy’s history to embrace change. “As you grow up and as you grow older, change will come,” Avishar stated. “And what matters the most is that you have people around you who can test your theories. You have friends and family, and you have an incredible network of alumni here that offers all different perspectives…. and will always be there to support you.”
The Young Alumni Award is designed to recognize and honor alumni who have distinguished themselves through overall service to, and involvement with, Columbus Academy as well as service and achievement within the community.