Raleigh, NC – ProStart high school students from 39 states and territories will compete in a three-day competition at the ninth-annual National ProStart Invitational April 30-May 2 in Overland Park, Kansas. Among the 39 are two teams from North Carolina. Competing in Culinary are students from Davie County High School in Mocksville, under the leadership of instructor, Darla Goldfuss. Competing in Restaurant Management are students from Watauga High School from Boone, under the leadership of instructor Lee Ann Williams.
The student teams will demonstrate their culinary skills and knowledge of restaurant management in this fast-paced competition before more than 800 fellow students, educators, mentors, industry leaders and state restaurant association executives. The winners will receive scholarships to continue their education to become the next generation of restaurant industry leaders.
Some notable leaders here in NC who have stepped up to support our teams by sponsoring travel costs related to this competition are LM Restaurants and US Foodservice.
“We are extremely fortunate to have this emerging support from the industry. Amber and Lou Moshakos from LM Restaurants, as well as Smokey Norris from US Foodservice are heavily involved in supporting education for the future of our industry,” says Alyssa Barkley, North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’
In 2010, the event will feature a new management competition format designed to better engage students and showcase their management skills. Participating teams will develop a proposal for an original restaurant concept, deliver a presentation, and apply critical thinking skills to challenges restaurant managers face in day-to-day operations.
Teams participating in the culinary competition will demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes using only two butane burners. This year’s culinary competition will also include a new element – poultry fabrication. The performance of teams in both the management and culinary events is observed and rated by judges from industry and academia.
In North Carolina, 20 schools are served by ProStart, a two-year curriculum supported by the North Carolina Hospitality Education Foundation (NC HEF) and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The career-building program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. For more information on the ProStart program and National ProStart Invitational, visit www.prostart.restaurant.org. For more information on NC HEF, visit www.ncrla.biz.
