The FRLAEF will conduct two ProStart Teacher Training events this summer. Trainings will be held at the Keiser University Sarasota campus and UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality in 
Orlando. Teachers may choose one training to attend which will be on a first-come, first-served basis through the registration process below.
TRAINING DATES (Please note this year the events are not back to back weeks)
June 11-14, 2024 UCF Rosen College of Hospitality, Orlando (almost full!)
June 25-28, 2024 Keiser University, Sarasota Campus
PROGRAM COST
The FRLAEF will cover the cost of all Florida ProStart instructors who will be teaching the ProStart curriculum during the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. 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 and each participant will have their own room. FRLAEF will cover the cost of the room nights.
UCF ROSEN
Teachers will stay at Universal Orlando’s Dockside Inn & Suites. All of our rooms are two-bedroom suites.
KEISER UNIVERSITY
Teachers will stay at Homewood Suites Lakewood Ranch.
REGISTRATION
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Registration Deadline: May 3, 2024
Florida Management Team Places 5th at Nationals
The Florida Management Competition team placed fifth at the National ProStart Student Invitational (NPSI) on Sunday, April 28 in Baltimore, Maryland. The team of five girls is from Strawberry Crest High School in Tampa and their concept was Sammy’s Smoke Shack, a Barbeque restaurant. The Florida Culinary Competition team was also from Strawberry Crest High School. The Culinary team did not place in the top five but received excellent feedback from the judges. The ProStart teachers at Strawberry Crest are Paul Bonnano, Jeremy Walburn and Josh Bauer.
All NPSI results are below along with photos from Team Florida.
CULINARY
1st Place – Delaware
2nd Place – Missouri
3rd Place – South Carolina
4th Place – Texas
5th Place – Ohio
MANAGEMENT
1st Place – California
2nd Place – Connecticut
3rd Place – Minnesota
4th Place – South Carolina
5th Place – Florida
FRLAEF Post Secondary Scholarship
The FRLAEF Post-Secondary scholarship is now available for your graduating seniors.
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 2024 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 17, 2024
Applicants notified award status by: May 24, 2024
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
ProStart Articulation
The National ProStart Collegiate Passport includes information about post-secondary schools that offer college credit and/or scholarships to ProStart students who have earned the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement (COA). The credits and scholarships listed in the Passport are available to any ProStart student with a COA, regardless of residence, although out-of-state tuition may apply.
CLICK HERE FOR THE PASSPORT
This lesson plan was shared on the ProStart Teacher Mobilize site to go along with the ProStart Passport. It was shared with the group by Lisa Gilbert at Sherwood High School in Maryland.
Rachael Ray Grant–Application Closes Tonight!
The application for the 2024 Rachael Ray Grow Grant is now live! The NRAEF partners with the Rachael Ray Foundation to award grants to schools in order to build or bolster their ProStart programs. Grant funds can go toward everything from purchasing textbooks and exam materials, new uniforms, kitchen equipment, starting a student based enterprise, or even professional development.
The only requirement is that schools either be a currently confirmed ProStart program, or commit to becoming one for the 2024-2025 school year.
Application and Timeline
Applicants will need a valid email address (accessible year-round) to create a profile on our portal to access the application. The application includes a complete profile and four application sections with one student essay and two educator essays.
- Applications open Monday, March 25, 2024
- Applications close Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:59pm PT
Schools: Apply Now!
Meet the 2023 ProStart Grow Grant Winners
For more information, please contact ProStart@nraef.org
The FRLA would love to highlight our participating ProStart programs and your creative side. We know how much fun your learning experience is and want to show that off, encouraging others to join in and eventually, hopefully, join Florida’s hospitality industry! Here are a few tips and suggestions for you, and don’t forget, whenever you post, tag @frlanews and we can share your post as well. Keep an eye out for future updates on ProStart social media competitions too!📱
TIPS/IDEAS
Be creative with your content. Here are a few fun possible content ideas:
- Come with us to class! (a video montage of a fun activity during class)
- POV: You’re in high school and want to be a culinary student! (or You’re in high school and want to go into hospitality!) over a video collage of footage from the class
- Challenge others to join ProStart …The top 3 reasons you should join ProStart…with fun footage or text/caption over photo/video from students.
- Hashtag challenge – create a fun hashtag
- Take someone through a full recipe, or other task
Most importantly, have fun and tag @FRLAnews!
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 2023-2024 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!
Work hours must be approved and completed no later than June 21, 2024. The HII will open again for next school year on July 1, 2024.
Updated ProStart Competition Video
Click here for an updated, longer ProStart competition video.
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 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.