ProStart Competition Results
Overall
1st Place – Martin County High School
Instructors: Shaun Southwick, Ashley Sesta
2nd – Wekiva High School
Instructors: Christopher Bates, Matthew Makransky
3rd Place – Strawberry Crest High School
Instructors: Paul Bonanno, Jeremy Walburn
4th Place – Coral Springs High School
Instructors: Aruna Lien, Tylor Cole
5th Place – TIE – Dixie Hollins High School
Instructors: Christy Rabich, Tara Bishop
5th Place – TIE – Bethlehem High School
Instructor: Chelsea Herndon
Keiser University Culinary Competition
1st Place – Martin County High School
Instructors: Shaun Southwick, Ashley Sesta
Students: Lily Tax, Paige Williams, Sophia Poirier, Georgia Poirier, Dominic Padovano
2nd Place – Strawberry Crest High School
Instructors: Paul Bonanno, Jeremy Walburn
Students: Sydnie Gutierrez, Julian Alvarado, Emma Langston, Mayte Hernandez-Diaz
3th Place – Winter Park High School
Instructor: Chris Whitlow
Students: Maria Santana, Madison Bryant, Murry Critcher, Audrey Alamina
4th Place – Wekiva High School
Instructors: Christopher Bates, Matthew Makransky
Students: Greta Torres, Erick Hendrickson, Nicholas Eberle, Josephina Russo, Travis Grider
5th Place – Lake Minneola High School
Instructors: Nick Sandora, Lance Bowles
Students: Anthony Miller, Kyndall Meacham, Elliot Lewis, Calvin Skolnik
Rosen College at UCF Management Competition
1st Place – Wekiva High School
Instructors: Christopher Bates, Matthew Makransky
Students: Danny Ha, Ishia Vilus, Judah Myers, Keyshia Acevedo-Ares
2nd Place – Coral Springs High School
Instructors: Aruna Lien, Tylor Cole
Students: Mariah Almodovar, Avinash Seepersad, Rylie Feller, Lanaya Nesmith
3rd Place – John A. Ferguson High School
Instructors: Janett Toledo, Jorge Garcia and Jebel Cordoba
Students: Kayla Quintero, Teresa Kinnaird, Rebecca Wylie
4th Place – Strawberry Crest High School
Instructors: Paul Bonanno, Jeremy Walburn
Students: Lauren Trotto, Connor Butler, Katya King
5th Place – Winter Springs High School
Instructors: Adam Efland, Duane Brevoort
Students: Aaron Lambert, Shia Lorenzano, Ellyanna Rivera
Edible Centerpiece
1st Place – Bethlehem High School
Instructors: Chelsea Herndon
Student: Kadence Phillips
2nd – Bayside High School
Instructors: Stuart Gray, Chris Cox
Students: Mikayla Daily
3rd Place – Steinbrenner High School
Instructors: Cheryl White
Student: Payton Miller
4th Place – St. Lucie West Centennial High School
Instructors: Christina Gedke-Balaschak, Evan Fraum
Student: Kamiel Miller
5th Place – TIE – Martin County High School
Instructor: Shaun Southwick, Ashley Sesta
Student: Melissa Rivera
5th Place – TIE – Coral Springs High School
Instructors: Aruna Lien, Tylor Cole
Student: Lucia Bedoya
Waiter’s Relay
1st Place – Dixie Hollins High School
Instructors: Christy Rabich, Tara Bishop
Students: Ty Cranston, Philip Smith, Justice Calle
2nd Place – JP Taravella High School
Instructors: Scott Goodman
Students: Myah Joseph, Pharrell Williams, Natalie Pisani
3rd Place – Martin County High School
Instructors: Shaun Southwick, Ashley Sesta
Students: Gage Meskauskas, Jake Chase, Alex Garces-Kaline
4th Place – Chipley High School
Instructor: Sandra Solger
Students: Gretchen Green, Kaitlin Thompson, Carolynn Vanderbrink
5th Place – Steinbrenner High School
Instructors: Cheryl White
Students: Sophie Lopez, Amaya Pollack, Julissa Teran
CLICK HERE TO WATCH 2023 PROSTART RECAP VIDEO!
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM THE EVENT!
FRLAEF Scholarships Awarded
The FRLAEF awarded $70,000 in scholarships during the Salute to Excellence Awards on March 5, 2023.
SCHOLARSHIP REDEMPTION
As a recipient of an FRLAEF Scholarship, students receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship to the post-secondary institution of your choice. Students should be pursuing a degree in culinary arts or hospitality. This scholarship is contingent upon the FRLAEF receiving verification students are enrolled in a post-secondary institution. This is confirmed when they email the FRLAEF your Student ID Number, the Financial Aid mailing address, and name of your college. The FRLAEF must receive this required documentation no later than June 9, 2023. Once we receive the verification, the scholarship check is mailed to the student’s college and they will deposit it in the student’s account.
2023 ProStart Teacher of the Year
The 2023 ProStart Teacher of the Year is Chris Bates. Chef Bates has 350 students enrolled in his culinary magnet program. He has earned the ProStart Premier status and has already secured the Premier status for the 2023-2024 school year.
His students do everything from taking the ProStart exams and the ServSafe exams to working in the industry. In their “free” time, they have competed in Texas at the NASA competition and in the Universal Orlando Handheld Competition. They have also participated in local events from Apopka Arts Festival to catering for Apopka’s Mayor.
As a result of winning ProStart Teacher of the Year, Chef Bates will participate in the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) ProStart Professional Development event in Dallas as well as the Educator of Excellence awards. He also has the opportunity to win the James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year award which includes a $10,000 cash prize. Good luck Chef Bates!
TWO LOCATIONS, TWO TRAININGS
There are two separate ProStart Teacher Training weeks this year.
June 13-16 — UCF Rosen College of Hospitality, Orlando
June 20-23 — Keiser University, Sarasota campus
Teachers may choose one training to attend which will be on a first-come, first-served basis through the registration online.
AGENDA
Due to the nature of the schools, the agendas will be different for each event. Detailed agendas will be available in May.
ROSEN COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY AT UCF AGENDA
The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality event will cover several topics to include Soups and Salads, Appetizers and Advanced Plating Techniques. The group will have offsite field trips.
KEISER UNIVERSITY SARASOTA AGENDA
The ProStart Teacher Training at Keiser University in Sarasota’s kitchen time will focus on Sustainability, International Favorites and Sweet Treats. The group will have offsite field trips.
REQUIREMENTS
All attendees must be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the 2023-2024 school year.
The FRLAEF, along with its sponsors, covers the cost for all attendees. This includes instruction, lodging, chef coat and take-home educational materials. Most meals will be provided. Accommodations for both events will be in a local hotel (TBD) and each participant will have their own room. FRLAEF will cover the cost of the room nights.
TRANSPORTATION
Attendees are responsible for their own transportation to the event as well as to and from the campuses each day.
REGISTRATION
Registration closes on May 5, 2023. If the events fill up prior to May 5, there will be a Wait List.
Each venue can hold 50 attendees. As there are over 270 Florida ProStart teachers, you may only register for one event.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TEACHER TRAINING.
UCF Rosen News
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management is excited to announce the launch of a new Bachelor of Science in Theme Park and Attraction Management. Set to launch in Fall of 2023, this unique degree will emphasize the management, creativity, and technology aspects of theme parks and attractions. Located next to the world’s top theme parks, the degree features many internship opportunities as well as applied projects in the industry. More details will be available soon at hospitality.ucf.edu. Admissions questions can be directed to rosenadmission@ucf.edu.
Seminole County Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Matthew Thompson who was named Seminole County Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year. Chef Thompson is one of three ProStart teachers at Hagerty High School. He said, “This is a great recognition for both our program and for every CTE program throughout the state that continues to grow and put our students in a position of being employable.”
Chef Thompson was also a finalist for the overall Teacher of the Year for the county but the award went to a local elementary school teacher. Thompson said, “I wanted to remind everyone that CTE programs are a vital part of our educational system and can really make an impact on the lives of our students. It is so cool to see our students working throughout all sectors of the hospitality industry throughout the state.”
FRLAEF Post Secondary Scholarship Now Open!
Please complete the following and return with a copy of your Official Transcript. One or two post-secondary recipients will be selected.
In order to be eligible for this scholarship the applicant must:
• Be enrolled at a post-secondary school pursuing a culinary or hospitality program–Summer/Fall 2023 term
• Return your transcript by application deadline
The scholarship amount is based on investment returns and award amounts fluctuate from year to year. Two to three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded. This is a one-time, non-renewable award. However, students may reapply each year.
Application deadline: May 19, 2023
Applicants notified award status by: May 26, 2023
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
NRAEF Scholarship Open Now Through March 15
The National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) Scholarship application opened on January 15. Scholarships range between $2,500–$10,000.
Undergraduate Scholarship Timeline
- January 15: Scholarship Application Opens
- March 15: Application Closes
- April – May: Scholarship Application Review
- June: Scholarship Award Notifications
- July – August: Scholarship Claiming and Payments
- August 15: Deadline to Claim Scholarship
CLICK HERE for the scholarship page and more information.
AHLA Scholarship Application Open Through March 15
- Self-nominated – open to all hospitality management students enrolled in a U.S. college or university
- School-nominated – requires school affiliation with the AHLA Foundation
All hospitality students, regardless of where they attend school, have access to more than $500,000 in scholarships offered through the Foundation’s self-nominated scholarships:
This year, the Foundation will disburse $1 million through its nine hospitality management scholarship programs for students ranging from freshmen to graduate students. Some scholarships are reserved for current hotel employees or minorities. Others are open to full-time or part-time students. Award amounts range from $500 to $7,500.
Summer Employment Opportunity
Summer Camp Cooks, a Summer Camp Food Service Management, provides meals for thousands of Campers and Staff over the summer around the USA. They are looking to connect with organizations that would like to provide their members, students, or staff opportunities to work in a quantity cooking environment in the summertime in beautiful camp locations.
Website link: https://summercampcooks.com/
Here is a website where Chefs can create a profile and see our jobs: https://campcooks.org/
Contact Alex Lagios at (954) 607-2231 for more information.
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, HTM, or HTMP curriculum during the 2022-2023 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.
Complimentary Foodsafety Materials
Each Premier and Full ProStart program is eligible for free ServSafe or SafeStaff materials. To ensure you get the materials you need, you must notify us of your needs. Once we receive your ProStart Classification paperwork, you can order up to $350 of ServSafe/SafeStaff materials. Click here for the price list. Email Amy Parker to place your order–you do not need to fill out the form. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The FRLAEF will not send you foodsafety materials unless you request them. Please do not forget to request the materials.
Complimentary ProStart Scantrons
The FRLAEF will distribute over $25,000 worth of free ProStart Exam Scantrons to Premier and Full ProStart schools during the 2022-2023 school year. Once a school has turned in their ProStart Classification paperwork, email Amy Parker to let her know how many ProStart Exam Scantrons you need. Requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Complimentary ServSuccess Materials
ServSuccess was introduced last year by the National Restaurant Association. It 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 exam 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.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
