[Orlando, Fla] On March 1 and 2, 413 culinary students representing 57 Florida high schools gathered at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando to compete in the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation’s (FRLAEF) 19th Annual ProStart Teams Competitions. Over the course of the weekend, students competed in the Johnson & Wales Culinary Competition, Rosen College at UCF Management Competition, Art Institute Edible Centerpiece Competition and the Waiters Relay.
“Students look forward to the Florida ProStart Teams Competition every year,” says Laura Rumer, the Director of the FRLAEF. “Throughout the school year, these students train and practice their respective crafts weekly. The ProStart program and competition teaches high school students not only culinary and management skills, but the value of hard work, too. We are so proud to be a part of building the future of hospitality in Florida with ProStart.”
The last event of the competition was the Salute to Excellence dinner where students were awarded for their respective competition categories. Hundreds of high school students also received scholarships from the FRLAEF and event sponsors Keiser University, Johnson & Wales University, UCF Rosen School of Hospitality, Culinary Institute of America, Valencia College, Louisiana Culinary Institute and New England Culinary Institute. More than $1 million in scholarships were awarded.
THE 2019 FLORIDA PROSTART TEAMS COMPETITIONS WINNERS ARE:
Overall:
1st Place – East Ridge High School
2nd Place – Hialeah Gardens High School
3rd Place – Leto High School
4th Place – Lake Minneola High School
5th Place – Tarpon Springs High School
Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition:
1st Place – Leto High School
2nd Place – Hialeah Gardens High School
3rd Place – East Ridge High School
4th Place –Northeast High School
5th Place – John A. Ferguson High School
Rosen College at UCF Management Competition:
1st Place – East Ridge High School
2nd Place – Lake Minneola High School
3rd Place – Fort Pierce Central High School
4th Place – Strawberry Crest High School
5th Place – Eastside High School
Keiser University Edible Centerpiece:
1st Place – Tarpon Springs High School
2nd Place – Eustis High School
3rd Place – Leon High School
4th Place – South Lake High School
5th Place – East Ridge High School
Waiter’s Relay:
1st Place – East Ridge High School
2nd Place – Hialeah Gardens High School
3rd Place – JP Taravella High School
4th Place – Dixie Hollins High School
5th Place – Leon High School
Learn more about ProStart or FRLA’s Educational Foundation here, or contact Director Laura Rumer at LRumer@frla.org.