Florida High School Students to Participate in Premier Culinary Competition in Orlando on March 5 and 6, 2014

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Ray
FRLA Press Secretary
850.224.2250 x255
ERay@FRLA.org

(Tallahassee, FL) – The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) is proud to support the 14th annual ProStart Culinary Team Competitions. This year, the event will showcase the skills of more than 400 high school students on Wednesday, March 5 and Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

A total of 60 high schools across the state are scheduled to participate in four different hospitality inspired events, with the opportunity to win more than $800,000 in scholarships.  The teams will be judged on how well they prepare a gourmet meal, their ability to create a business proposal for a new restaurant, design an edible centerpiece, and they will compete in a waiter’s relay race.

“We are thrilled to have talented students from across the state showcase their skills and give a glimpse into the future of Florida’s hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.  “We are proud to support them all year long through the FRLAEF, which is the only organization in Florida designed to provide students with school-to-career hospitality training.  We look forward to watching them strive for excellence in this year’s competition and anticipate they will do great things for our industry when they enter the workforce.”

The media is invited to attend both days of competition, and the awards ceremony, where there will be an opportunity to film the events and interview the participants and judges. Please contact FRLA Press Secretary Elizabeth Ray at 850.224.2250 x255 or via email at ERay@frla.org to arrange. The complete list of winners will be posted on the FRLA website and distributed to media outlets following the awards ceremony.

WHAT:
The FRLA Educational Foundation’s ProStart Culinary Team Competition.
Over 400 Florida High School Students from 60 Schools Scheduled to Compete

WHEN:               
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
9:00 am – 6:00 pm: Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition

9:00 am – 5:50 pm: Cracker Barrel Management Competition

9:00 am – 3:00 pm: Keiser University Edible Centerpiece Competition

9:00 am – 6:00 pm: Education & Business Expo

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014

7:00 am – 3:30 pm: Johnson & Wales University Culinary Competition

8:00 am – 12:20 pm: Cracker Barrel Management Competition

8:00 am – 3:00 pm: Education & Business Expo

10:00 am – 1:00 pm: The Coca-Cola Company Waiters Relay Competition

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Salute to Excellence Awards at Rosen Plaza Hotel, Grand Ballroom

WHERE: 
Orange County Convention Center / Hall F
9800 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
407.685.9800

Overall, there are 21 categories that will be judged by industry representatives from Cracker Barrel, Walt Disney World, Loews Hotels and Marriott International among others. The various post-secondary schools represented include Johnson & Wales University, Culinary Institute of America, Keiser University, Art Institute and Le Cordon Bleu.

For more information about the FRLAEF program, list of participating high schools, and the 2-day event program, please click here or contact Laura Rumer at 321.689.7192 or email her at LRumer@frla.org. You may also access the FRLA website at  http://frla.org to learn about ProStart.

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About FRLA Educational Foundation (FRLAEF)
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association created the Educational Foundation in 1994. FRLAEF administers and executes two high school curriculums ‐ the National Restaurants Association’s (NRA) ProStart and the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s (AH&LA) Lodging Management Program – in over 240 Florida high schools and provides resources to nearly 25,000 students in these culinary arts and hospitality management programs. Scholarships, Teacher Training Institutes, Industry Certifications, Equipment Mini‐Grants and Industry Internships are just a few of the products and services the FRLAEF provides to these classrooms. For more information, please go to www.FRLA.org.