ProStart June NewsBites

NRAEF COA Changes

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT–The NRAEF has extensively changed the ProStart Certificate of Achievement (COA) process for this school year. This new process puts more responsibility on the student for the processing of his/her COA.  However, NRAEF is having extensive issues with their new COA processing system.

For those with COA applications pending that couldn’t be processed due to system issues (records that need to be merged, students not linked to the right educator etc.) we have an interim solution: NRAEF will process those applications for you.  In order to do this, we need you to send us the following:

Send us: The documents for each student application: student full legal name, teacher name, school name, documentation of the 400+ hours (pay stubs et al) and signed Work Experience Checklists.  Confirm the student has taken both exams.  However, you are not required to send us proof of this.

You may:

–Scan and email the documents to aparker@frla.org

–Copy and mail them to FRLAEF, PO Box 1779, Tallahassee, FL 32302

–Fax copies to 850-224-2871

Once we have the documents we will work with NRAEF to enter the student work hours, address any problems (like exams not showing up) on the student’s page and submit the application. Once everything is entered and finalized a COA will be issued electronically to the student.

NRAEF is also working to provide a pdf to you with copies of all of your students COAs.  The intention is for this entire project to be complete by the end of June.  We know this isn’t perfect but hope it will take this issue off your plate while still getting the COAs processed.  If you have any questions, please let us know.


ProStart Teacher Training Institute Update

ProStart KitchenWe look forward to seeing all registered teachers at the 19th Annual ProStart Teacher Training Institute this month! The agendas will be finalized soon and emailed to participants.

The FRLAEF along with its sponsors cover the cost of the training, dorm stay and some meals. Travel to and from the event is on your own. Complete agendas will be available in June.  If you are booking a flight to TTI, plan on arriving Sunday afternoon or evening. The training begins with breakfast at 6:30 AM Monday, June 22. On Friday, June 26 the week will conclude with a 40-question exam. Based on our experience, you should be finished testing by 2:00 PM but you may take as long as you need.


 

FRLAEF 2014 Scholarship Profile

Andrew Zubia PhotoThis article is by Andrew Zubia (pictured left), a former ProStart student from Tarpon Springs High School. Andrew was awarded an FRLAEF Scholarship in 2014. We asked him to write about his freshman year experience at Johnson & Wales University.

Johnson and Wales University has been an absolutely crazy experience for me, and I mean that in the best way possible. Days are longer than what they used to be in high school as in high school, you used to go to class for 6 hours between 6 classes. However, I go to a class in a kitchen for 6 hours and then have to go to my 2 hour academic classes. This has made me more critical with time management and prioritizing homework, free time, friends and volunteering. Not having classes on Friday is a bonus as it allows an extra day to get work done because after 8 hours of class, there’s not a lot of motivation to sit down right away and do your homework!

The other big thing that I really like about Johnson and Wales is the fact that so many cultures come together in one big city. Everywhere you go there are people from all over the globe and you begin to talk to these people about food and their traditions. Food becomes intertwined with two or three different cultures. Experimentation with one or two flavors from one plate with another until you create something new. It’s like a whole new world. It’s even more intimate with labs when you see these people cooking and using their culture’s flavors to change a dish into something you would have never thought. It’s no longer following a standardized recipe, but become creative and playing off of each other’s ideas.

With Johnson and Wales being near all of South Beach’s high end restaurants, students are highly encouraged to go try the food and attempt to work in these restaurants. Many restaurants and hotels come to campus to hire students all around Miami. The South Beach Food and Wine Festival brings all kinds of chefs to this area and we are given the opportunity to work with them for a few days. Miami has continued to amaze me with the opportunities that are presented as it’s very difficult to want to hold one job when there are so many places to learn and see.

During the school year I worked at Alaska Coffee Roasting where we import coffee beans from all over the world and use a wood fire oven to make rustic Italian style pizzas, sandwiches and breads. It was a great experience as well.  This year has shown me and allowed me to experience more things than I thought I was going to my freshman year. This year has left me speechless and I absolutely can’t wait for next year’s labs and my internship.


Chef’s Warehouse June Special — Food Storage Bins

Chefs Warehouse

 

Prosave ScreenshotClick on picture to enlarge. For a pdf spec sheet click here.

For pricing and to order contact Luanna Skeens at Chef’s Warehouse: lskeens@chefs-warehouse.com

 

 

7200 W Colonial Drive • Orlando • FL • 32818 P: 407.294.0300 • F: 407.294.8565

Lake County Teacher Earns CSFE

Candace HuxholdCongratulations to Candace Huxhold, ProStart teacher at South Lake High School in Groveland. She has completed her Certified Secondary Foodservice Educator (CSFE) requirements.

She is pictured at left outside of the NRAEF headquarters in Chicago where she personally handed in her paperwork!

For more information regarding CSFE requirements,click here. (And don’t worry, you can mail your paperwork in once it is completed.)

 


James Brock Scholarship

The James Brock scholarship online application is now available for distribution to your students.  Click here for the application.

In order to be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:

  • Be enrolled at Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida International University or Daytona State College
  • Be entering or continuing in a culinary or hospitality post-secondary program — Fall 2015 term
  • Return a copy of OFFICIAL transcript to FRLAEF by application deadline

The scholarship amount is based on investment returns and award amounts fluctuate from year to year. The typical scholarship range is $1,000 — $2,500. This is a one-time, non-renewable award.

The FHM Insurance Company established the James Brock Scholarship in honor of their founder and past president Mr. James “Jimmy” Brock.  Mr. Brock learned the lodging business while working for his mentor William W. “Bill” Faw.  Later Mr. Brock became a partner in the Monson Motor Lodge, eventually owning and operating the property for more than 40 years.  In 1954, Mr. Brock organized a group of hoteliers and formed the Florida Hotel & Motel Self Insurers Workers’ Compensation Fund.  After more than 40 successful years, that fund was converted to a mutual insurance company, FHM Insurance Company.

The FHM Insurance Company Board of Directors would like to honor the memory of Mr. Brock by awarding one scholarship for a post-secondary student enrolled at Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida International University or Daytona State College.  Any interested students from these four post-secondary institutions may apply for the scholarship.  All applicants must be pursuing a degree in culinary arts or hospitality.

Application deadline: Friday, August 7, 2015

Applicants notified award status by: Friday, September 25, 2015

Official Transcripts should be mailed to:

FRLAEF

PO Box 1779

Tallahassee, FL 32302

Some schools have the capability to email OFFICIAL transcripts. Those should be sent to Amy Parker at:aparker@FRLA.org.


2015 Educators of Excellence

NRAEF has shared Educator Stories from the ProStart Teachers of the Year from each state in this document. These teachers, including Stuart Gray, the Florida ProStart Teacher of the Year, were in Chicago last month for the Educator of Excellence Awards dinner.

The stories are moving, inspirational and provide examples of innovation and best practices in ProStart. The James H. Maynard Award Winners were Nathaniel Bradshaw (Connecticut) and Barbara Hummer (Ohio).


Johnson & Wales University ProStart Scholarship

JWU LogoJohnson & Wales University is proud of its commitment to educate some of the best-trained and most-prepared graduates of any college in the nation.  As part of this commitment, the University honors motivated students by providing them with the opportunity to earn substantial tuition scholarships to JWU.

As a participant in the ProStart curriculum in high school students may be eligible for the following renewable scholarships to JWU.

ProStart Scholarship Application Process

Incoming accepted students to Johnson & Wales who indicate their participation in the ProStart curriculum will receive a $1,000 renewable scholarship totaling $4,000.

ProStart State Invitational Scholarships 

Incoming accepted students to Johnson & Wales who placed in the top three in Florida’s ProStart Competition in Culinary or Management receive the following scholarships.  Each of these scholarships is renewable for four years.

1st place winner           $1,000

2nd place winner           $750

3rd place winner           $500


Consolidated Foodservice Scholarship

Consolidated Foodservice is offering a new scholarship for students in the Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management fields.  Here is the link to the scholarship information and application:http://www.consolidatedfoodservice.com/scholarship. The scholarship is open to high school seniors who plan to enroll in college at the start of next school year or all students who are currently enrolled in a Culinary Arts or Hospitality Management program. Each scholarship is $500.


Project Taste Test Videos

The latest video in the Project Taste Test Cool Careers series is now available at www.nraef.org. The video highlights the career paths of two chefs in the Delaware North Companies: Chef Percy Whatley is the Executive Chef at the Awahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park and Chef Gidget Wickham is Executive Chef at the Kennedy Space Center. This video is an excellent way to inspire ProStart students to think about foodservice careers at exciting destinations. The first video in the series focused on culinary arts and the second on opportunities in franchising. The videos are public; special ProStart teacher resources are available in the educator community.


FRLAEF Scholarships Awards

The FRLAEF awarded 22 scholarships during the Salute to Excellence Awards dinner on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando. Each FRLAEF scholarship recipient will receive $2,000 to pursue a degree in culinary or hospitality. Scholarship recipients must return required documentation to the FRLAEF no later than June 19, 2015 in order to claim their scholarship. Details were provided in the scholarship award email, but contact us with any questions.


Becoming Video Request

If you still have the Becoming a Foodservice Professional DVDs and are not using them, a school has requested the Year One video which has the Food Safety Challenge in it. Please let us know if you have a copy to donate.


Newsletter Archive 2014-2015 School Year

August 2014; September 2014; October 2014; November 2014; December 2014; January 2015; February 2015; March 2015; April 2015; May 2015