(Tallahassee, Fla.) – Hospitality student teams selected from two high schools will be representing Florida in the country’s premier high school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts, the National ProStart Invitational®, from April 28-30 in Charleston, South Carolina. These teams earned top rankings at Florida’s ProStart Competition hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) that occurred March 3-4, 2017 in Orlando.
The Culinary Team from Leto High School and Management Team from Tarpon Springs High School will travel to Charleston, South Carolina for this year’s competition and will compete against high school students across the country for trophies, scholarships, and bragging rights.
Supported by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), ProStart® is a career and technical education program focused on teaching culinary arts and restaurant management fundamentals through a combination of classroom and industry instruction.
This year, nearly 400 student competitors will put their skills to the test in front of culinary and restaurant business leaders, family, and friends. The top five teams from the culinary and management competitions will earn coveted scholarships to continue their restaurant or foodservice education.
“These exemplary students represent the future of Florida’s hospitality industry and the FRLAEF is thrilled to cheer them on as representatives of the Sunshine State. With more than 20,000 students enrolled, Florida’s ProStart program cultivates extraordinary, young leaders in culinary techniques and restaurant management. By providing real-world experience, this program opens the door for a fulfilling career in a trade that offers numerous opportunities for enrichment and advancement,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLAEF.
“Nearly 140,000 high school students are enrolled in ProStart, making it one of the largest career and technical education programs of its kind,” says Rob Gifford, executive vice president, NRAEF. “And these young people are learning not just culinary and management fundamentals, but the skills they need to succeed in the workplace, such as teamwork and time management. Thank you to all of our 2017 ProStart partners who possible for us to change lives and give these students this amazing opportunity.”
National ProStart Invitational activities begin April 28 with the Business & Education Expo and the weekend officially kicks off Friday evening at the Opening Ceremony. Culinary and management competitions begin Saturday, April 29 and continue through Sunday. Students will have time to unwind and celebrate their successes on Saturday evening at Champions’ Night In. The festivities conclude with an Awards Dinner honoring the winners on the evening of April 30. Outside of the competition, all competitors will have the opportunity to network with restaurant and hospitality industry leaders and learn more about post-secondary education opportunities.