Prostart Competition 2015

15th Annual ProStart Competition Results

(TALLAHASSEE, FL)—The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) announced the winners of the 15th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competition which was held Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

A total of 49 schools participated in the competition with 16 schools winning top awards throughout the day’s events. More than $800,000 in scholarships was distributed to the winning schools. All winners and participants are a part of Florida’s ProStart program which is a career technical education program where high school students learn from an industry-derived curriculum that teaches culinary techniques and restaurant management skills. More than 20,000 students from across the state are enrolled in the program. The four main event competitions included: the Cracker Barrel Management Competition, the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition, the Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition, and the Coca-Cola Company Waiters Relay Competition. (Click below for results.)

Tarpon Springs High School won first place in the overall competition. Eastside High School in Gainesville took home second place in the overall competition, with Leto High School in Tampa placing third. For photos of the event, please click here.

“We wish heartfelt congratulations to all of our winners and participants in this year’s competition. We were truly impressed with the incredible caliber of talent, which included young hospitality industry all-stars from across our great state. FRLAEF is the only organization in Florida that offers the ProStart program and we are proud to help bolster the quality and employability of today’s high school graduates by providing them with school-to-career training. We look forward to their successes and are thrilled to provide them more opportunities for foodservice and lodging careers, and higher education,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Overall Competition Winners

First Place
Tarpon Springs High School
Instructors: Cathleen Ryan, Vincent Pesce, and Tony DeVincenzo

Second Place
Eastside High School
Instructors: Billie DeNunzio and Pam Bedford

Third Place
Leto High School
Instructor: Debra Hladky

Fourth Place *tie*
J.P. Taravella High School
Instructor Scott Goodman
East Ridge High School
Instructors: Lucressie McGriff and Ken Pitts

Fifth Place
Seabreeze High School
Instructor: Samantha Crouch

Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition

Participating teams demonstrated their creative abilities during the competition through the preparation of a meal consisting of: starter (such as soup, salad or appetizer), protein (such as meat, fish or fowl), starch, vegetable, and dessert.

First Place
Leto High School
Instructor: Debra Hladky

Second Place
West Boca Raton High School
Instructor: Nancy Hall

Third Place
Eastside High School
Instructor: Billie DeNunzio and Pam Bedford

Fourth Place
Nassau County Career Ed
Instructor: Bill Castleberry

Fifth Place
Tarpon Springs High School
Instructors: Cathleen Ryan, Vincent Pesce, and Tony DeVincenzo

Cracker Barrel Management Competition

Participating teams demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a business proposal for a new restaurant concept. The business proposal consisted of a defined restaurant concept, supporting menu, and supporting marketing plan. Teams prepared a comprehensive written proposal, verbal presentation and visual display.

First Place
Eastside High School
Instructors: Billie DeNunzio, Pam Bedford

Second Place *tie*
J.P. Taravella High School
Instructor: Scott Goodman
Second Place East Ridge High School
Instructors: Lucressie McGriff and Ken Pitts

Third Place
Tarpon Springs High School
Instructors: Cathleen Ryan, Vincent Pesce, and Tony DeVincenzo

Fourth Place*tie*
Estero High School
Instructor: Jan Doten
South Lake High School
Instructors: John Thunberg and Candace Huxhold

Fifth Place
John A. Ferguson School
Instructors: Janett Toledo, Jorge Garcia, and Jebel Cordoba

Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition

Participating teams demonstrated their creative ability during the competition through the preparation of an edible centerpiece consisting of fruits and vegetables. Contestants explained nutritional information, product availability, and preparation techniques.

First Place
Tarpon Springs High School
Instructors: Cathleen Ryan, Vincent Pesce, and Tony DeVincenzo

Second Place *tie*
Steinbrenner High School
Instructors: Philip Meola and David Walescheck
Jefferson High School
Instructor: David Hillard

Third Place
Columbia High School
Instructor: Cheryl Bender

Fourth Place
Bayside High School
Instructors: Stuart Gray and Christopher Cox

Fifth Place
Northeast High School
Instructors: John Beck and Curtis Serata

Coca-Cola Company Walters Relay Competition

Participating teams demonstrated their ability to duplicate a table setting while racing against the clock.

First Place
Seabreeeze High School
Instructor: Samantha Crouch

Second Place
North Port High School
Instructors: Witold Bielak and Becky Halbert

Third Place
Cypress Creek High School
Instructor: Cynda Aron

Fourth Place
Winter Springs High School
Instructors: Adam Efland and Elizabeth Leh

Fifth Place
Tarpon Springs High School
Instructors: Cathleen Ryan, Vincent Pesce, and Tony DeVincenzo

2015 Competition Videos

Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner Table Assignments

Each school/group has been assigned specific tables for the Salute awards dinner this Saturday night.

CLICK HERE to get your table assignment(s). On site, each table will be labeled with these table assignments.

For a rough floor plan, click here to get an idea where you will be sitting.

Competition Times + Team Numbers

During the competition, your school is referred to by an assigned team number, not your school name.

First–CLICK HERE to get your Team Number.

Second–click below on any competition to find your competing time.

Culinary Competition Times

Management Competition Times

Waiters Relay Times

Edible Centerpiece Times

2015 Competition Agenda

2015 ProStart Competition

The 15th Annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions will take place Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28, 2015.

LOCATION New this year–all competitions will take place at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.

On Friday, February 27, half of the Culinary Teams and Management Teams will compete along with all Edible Centerpiece teams. On Saturday, February 28, the remaining Culinary and Management teams will compete along with all of the Waiter Relay Teams. On Saturday competitions will begin earlier in the morning and conclude earlier in the afternoon. The competition will be followed by an awards dinner at the Rosen Plaza Hotel.

AID FOR COMPETING SCHOOLS The FRLAEF will provide stipends to offset the cost of participating in the event. Each team will receive a $250 stipend per competition. A team competing in one competition will receive $250 while a team competing in all four competitions will receive $1,000. The competition stipends will be mailed to competing teams prior to the competition. If a team backs out of a competition after receiving their stipend, they need to reimburse the FRLAEF for the stipend.

HOTEL The FRLAEF has a room block reserved at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. The Rosen Plaza room rate is $99 per night. The self parking fee of $13 per night is waived. If you prefer to valet park the fee is $20. To reserve a room, contact the Rosen Plaza at 800-627-8258. The group name is Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. The FRLAEF recommends you reserve your rooms now–February is a busy time in Orlando and hotels book up quickly.