Universal Orlando Handheld Competition–Top FOUR Teams! 
The Top Ten Finalists of the Universal Orlando Handheld competition competed Tuesday, December 2 at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality to win a spot in the finale where FOUR teams will compete. Chefs from Universal Orlando will travel to these four schools to work with the team to help perfect their entry. The Final stage of the competition is February 3, 2026 at UCF Rosen where the top four will compete to win it all. The winners will have their item showcased in one of Universal Orlando’s theme park restaurants and the school will also receive a check for their program along with scholarships from UCF Rosen.
THE TOP FOUR:
Deltona High School
Lyman High School
Miami Lakes Educational Center
West Orange High School
Voodoo Chef High School Recipe Challenge
The VooDoo Chef High School Recipe Challenge is your chance to bring bold flavors to life and showcase your culinary talent! Each year, high school students across Florida put their skills to the test by creating a VooDoo-inspired dish using a VooDoo Chef Sauce and/or Seasoning. The winner earns a culinary scholarship to help turn their passion into a career in the foodservice and hospitality industry.
Why Compete?
Showcase your culinary talent
Win a scholarship to jumpstart your culinary career
Get recognized by industry professionals
Join the VooDoo Chef Foundation’s mission to support future chefs
How to Enter:
*High School Students Only*
✅ Create a unique recipe using a VooDoo Sauce and/or Seasoning
✅ Submit your recipe for a chance to win a scholarship
✅ Create, cook, and impress the judges!
Enter now!
Commitment Date: December 15, 2025
Seasoning Mail Out Date: January 21, 2026
Recipe Submission Date: February 7, 2026
Winners Announced: February 21, 2026
CLICK HERE to enter
Fresh from Florida
Hello ProStart Teachers! Florida sweet corn is back in season, and it’s one of Chef Justin’s favorite ways to add color, flavor and texture to fall meals. Its versatility alone makes it an important produce staple. From soups and salsas to desserts and sides, Florida sweet corn always brings the flavor Try it in this Florida Sweet Corn, Snap Bean and Bell Pepper Saute.
- Fresh Florida corn is at its best when the husks are bright green, the silks are golden and slightly sticky, and the kernels are tightly packed and juicy.
- Fresh Tip: Keep corn in its husk and store it in the refrigerator as soon as you bring it home — it helps lock in that signature Florida sweetness until you’re ready to cook.
- Check out this fresh video for Roasted Florida Corn and Tomato Salad featuring Florida Sweet Corn, Florida Tomatoes and Florida Romaine Lettuce. Salads are a great way to
share Florida produce!
Ingredients
2 heads Florida romaine lettuce, leaves left whole
2 ears Florida sweet corn
2 Florida tomatoes, diced small
1 lemon, juiced
¼ cup whole milk (or low-fat milk)
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, parsley and/or dill)
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning (your favorite)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Preparation
Preheat a large cast iron skillet to medium heat. Place corn in dry pan and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, turning several times to char all sides. Remove from heat, cool, then remove from cob.
Prepare dressing by adding milk, yogurt, fresh herbs, garlic, lemon juice, all-purpose seasoning, salt and pepper to a blender. Blend thoroughly and set aside (or store in refrigerator) until ready to use.
Assemble salad by placing 2 to 3 romaine leaves on plate followed by ¼ cup roasted corn and 2 to 3 tablespoons diced tomatoes. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.
Fresh tip: feel free to replace the romaine leaves with Florida spinach or arugula!
Enjoy the taste of Florida fall, and don’t forget to tag @FreshFromFlorida with your creations.
REGISTER FOR UPDATES! Want to learn how to improve the flavor and freshness of your students’ culinary creations and at the same time, support Florida farmers? Learn from the fun and engaging resources at FreshFromFlorida.com! To have FREE access to over 400 recipes and receive seasonal information from Florida’s Culinary Ambassador Chef Justin join the Fresh From Florida Club. Follow them to stay updated on Instagram or Facebook @FreshFromFlorida or at their website, followfreshfromflorida.com!
St. Thomas University Young Chefs Summit & Chef Leadership Summit
Young Chefs Summit Join the ultimate leadership experience for high school and college-level culinarians in the vibrant city of Miami. Hosted at St. Thomas University, on Friday, January 30, 2026, NextGen Rising is where passion meets purpose, bringing together future chefs and hospitality professionals to master essential career-building skills beyond the kitchen. This dynamic summit blends leadership training, media and communication info, and career development sessions, all designed to inspire and equip the next generation of hospitality leaders. Learn what it takes to rise in today’s fast-moving hospitality industry while connecting with mentors, industry innovators, and like-minded peers who share your vision for culinary and hospitality excellence and impact.
There is no cost to attend the event and all Florida ProStart schools are invited.
Chefs Leadership Summit The Chefs Leadership Summit returns to St. Thomas University for another year of transformative growth and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned executive chef or just starting your culinary leadership journey, this one-day summit is designed to inspire innovation, sharpen your business acumen, and elevate your impact in the kitchen and beyond.
This year’s theme, Advancing Innovation & Change, focuses on equipping culinary leaders with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
There is a cost to attend the Chefs Summit. Click below for rates.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register.
Survey from UCF Rosen
Esra Ibrahim, a Ph.D. student at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality, is conducting a research study to explore culinary competencies among culinary students, culinary educators and industry professionals. Your feedback will help identify strengths and areas of improvement in culinary education and workforce development. The link below has contact information for those involved in the study as well as the study itself.
https://ucf.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJ5nOFEjl30Calo
News from Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Hospitality and Tourism Management Program is located in one of America’s largest and best colleges of business and is ranked #9 by intelligent.com. 
Potential career areas have diverse offerings across the entire spectrum of hospitality, services industries, retail, and beyond. Our business school foundation provides the services skills to success in finance, entrepreneurship, sales and marketing, revenue optimization, operations in hotels/food/beverage/theme parks, human resources, tourism planning and real estate development, hospitality consulting, and virtually any area of the services business community.
Students who choose to major or minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management receive a broad management-based education following the core business curriculum. This base provides a platform of knowledge and a focus on improving one’s ability to successfully and profitably manage service-focused organization. Program coursework emphasizes experiential learning, critical thinking, operations, and strategy.
The Hospitality and Tourism Management program offers a number of niche certificates for those wishing to specialize in high demand areas of the overall hospitality industry. These include Meetings and Events Management, Club Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Management.
For more information, please visit us at:
https://business.fau.edu/departments/marketing/hospitality-management/
Culinary Position in Fort Myers
The Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens (LARC) just built a commercial culinary training kitchen, and are looking to hire a chef instructor. Does your association allow organizations like ours to share the job description? Once we have our chef instructor in place we will be able to launch our 4 month culinary training program for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities and help provide a pathway into a career in food service.”
CLICK HERE for more information.
Career Connection Event
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is looking for young adults from all areas of study to introduce them to career options in the food industry that they may never have considered.
The IDDBA is hosting the Career Connection Live on June 9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. It’s a free, half-day event during our national food industry trade show, open to all areas of interest—business, marketing, engineering, tech, sustainability, and more. Students and their faculty advisors can network with professionals, explore career paths, and hear from a live Career Advice Panel.
CLICK HERE for the info flyer.
Hospitality Industry Internships
The Hospitality Industry Internship (HII) provides the opportunity for Florida ProStart & HTM instructors to work in a 
foodservice/lodging establishment for at least 40 hours. Once the required paperwork has been processed, the participant will receive a personal check for $600.
To qualify for an HII, the instructor must teach the ProStart curriculum during the 2025-2026 school year. If you are already employed at a restaurant or hotel, you MAY NOT use that site for your internship. The restaurant/hotel must be a new work experience for you, not somewhere you have worked before or used as an HII internship location.
The applicant must secure a position at a foodservice or lodging facility where a minimum of 40 hours of hands-on experience is guaranteed. The host location may pay the recipient but is not required to do so.
The FRLAEF will award 11 HII’s this school year on a first-come, first-served basis. So apply NOW! Work experience may begin once the applicant receives an award notification from the FRLAEF.
APPLY NOW!
Get 30% Off Crocs
The Crocs at Work Team has invited you and your ProStart students to take advantage of the Crocs at Work x ProStart Insider Program this year. THIS FLYER has the QR Code for the discount. The QR Code gives students and educators a 30% off Crocs at Work discount code which can be used on Crocs.com. All ProStart students and teachers are eligible.
Mobilize Challenge
Leigh Howlett, a ProStart instructor in Massachusetts at Old Colony Regional Technical Vocational High School, posted THIS CHALLENGE on Mobilize. Could be fun for any of you who have students that would like to boost their Tik Tok audience.
COA = JWU Credits
Any ProStart students who earn their ProStart Certificate of Achievement (COA) are now eligible to apply to Johnson & Wales University (JWU) and earn 10 to 13 semester credits! These credits fall under 8 different majors from the College of Food Innovation & Technology, and 3 different majors under the College of Hospitality Management.
If your students are planning on earning their COA and have an interest in majoring in culinary arts or hospitality, share this link with them: https://www.jwu.edu/prostart/index.html
Become a Premier ProStart School with Free ProStart Exam Materials
Teachers often ask how they can become Premier ProStart schools when they are doing everything required to be Full ProStart schools. In order to get to Premier, you must have at least one student earn the ProStart Certificate of Achievement (COA). If you have a student already working in the foodservice industry, this could be a pathway to get to Premier status. To earn their COA, students must:
- Work at least 400 hours in the foodservice industry
- Pass both Foundations exams
- Have their manager complete the Work Experience Checklist
For a detailed list and a how-to of these steps click here.
The FRLAEF offers free ProStart exam materials each year to Premier and Full ProStart schools. Once we have received a teacher’s Full Implementation contract you are free to request complimentary scantrons or online codes.
Complimentary ServSuccess Materials
ServSuccess is a stackable foodservice industry credential. The entry level certification is Certified Restaurant Professional (CRP). Individuals must have 400 hours of industry experience along with the ServSafe certification to be eligible to sit for the CRP. No training is required but five modules are offered.
If you would like to take the courses and/or the exam, email Amy Parker to let her know and she will get you signed up for free!
The link below will provide you with additional information on CRP.
Scholarships
The FRLAEF will award at least $65,000 in scholarships during the 2025-2026 school year. Each scholarship awarded will be in the amount of $2,000 and will be a one-time, non-
renewable scholarship.
To be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:
- Be enrolled in a ProStart program in a Florida secondary school
- Be a graduating senior who will begin post-secondary education in 2026
- Be entering a culinary or hospitality post-secondary program
- Return a copy of their OFFICIAL high school transcript to FRLAEF by application deadline
APPLICATION TIMELINE The FRLAEF Scholarship application will become available in January NewsBites. The application deadline is April 10, 2026
The FRLAEF will conduct two ProStart Teacher Training events during summer 2026. Training will be held at the Keiser University Sarasota campus and at UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality in 
Orlando. Both events will begin on Tuesday evening and conclude at Friday lunch.
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2025-2026 school year. Attendees will be responsible for their travel and some meals.
SAVE THE DATE
Attendees may choose from one of the trainings below when the registration link becomes available in March NewsBites.
June 16-19, 2026 UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality
June 23-26, 2026 Keiser University, Sarasota