ProStart NewsBites November 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deadline this Month:

November 6

  • Data Survey Closes–required for Premium and Full ProStart schools

Universal Orlando Handheld Competition–Top 10 Set! 

The Top Ten Finalists of the Universal Orlando Handheld competition have been selected. These teams will compete in-person at UCF Rosen College of Hospitality on December 2, 2025. After the top ten teams cook and present to the judges, the top three will be selected. Chefs from Universal Orlando will travel to these three 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 three teams will compete for the top spot. 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.

School  Item
Deltona High School The Ribwich
Florida High Mango Habenero Poppers
Forest High School Vulcan al Pastor
Keystone Heights School Pambazo Torta Sandwich
Lyman High School Spicy BBQ Pork Belly Hoagie
Martin County High School Mushroom Cauliflower Tacos
Miami Central Senior High Sweet Heat Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
Miami Lakes Educational Center Curry Kraut Cruncher
Strawberry Crest High School Key Lime Tacos
West Orange High School Braised Short Rib Empanadas

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show takes place November 11-13 in Orlando.

PROSTART INSTRUCTORS

ProStart teachers may use the following complimentary code to register for the Show. Complimentary code: ANDREAVIP

Go Here and click on “Start Non-Member Registration”

PROSTART STUDENTS

Up to 10 ProStart students may attend the Show.  However, there is a $30 fee per student and the following rules apply.

  • Students may register at the rate of $30 per person. 
  • Each group of 5 students must be accompanied by a faculty member or chaperone (21+), and the group must remain with their chaperone at all times.  Any students found unaccompanied on the show floor will be escorted back to the lobby and will have their badge voided with no refund.  No more than 10 students will be permitted per school. 
  • If maximum student allotment is reached, student registration will be closed. 
  • Discount codes are not valid on Student Admission registrations and students will be required to show their ID to get their name badges. 

To register your students, click the link above and enter the code STU2025

EDUCATION AT THE SHOW    Forty-plus hours of education is included with your Show badge! Take advantage of the free education classes once you are at the Show. The schedule has not been set, but check for updates on THIS PAGE to plan your time at the Show to full advantage. 

Fresh from Florida

One of our new partners, Fresh from Florida, has a quick and easy recipe for you to try with your students with in-season Florida tomatoes:

Hello ProStart Teachers! It’s a great time to cook with Florida tomatoes! Tomatoes are in season, and they’re bringing their A-game to everyone’s favorite dishes — from fresh salads to hearty entrées.

  • Preparation:
    Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Arrange tomato slices on a sheet pan (cooling wire rack is optional) and sprinkle with salt and fresh thyme. Roast in oven for 2 ½ to 4 hours, depending on size and number of tomatoes. You will know the tomatoes are completely dry when there is little to no moisture left. Enjoy or place into airtight container with olive oil for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
  • Fresh Tip: Use in pasta dishes, sauces, salads or sandwiches!

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!

NRAEF Data Survey — Closes November 6 — THIS THURSDAY

The Annual NRAEF Data Survey is open. All Florida ProStart instructors were emailed a link to take their survey or a link to register at the site. If you did not receive a link, please email Amy Parker at [email protected].

Why complete the data survey? Completing the annual survey ensures that your school is considered a confirmed ProStart program for the 2025-26 school year. That means…

  1. Competition Eligibility: Only confirmed programs can compete on a state and National level.
  2. Grants: Only confirmed programs are eligible to apply for grants like the Rachael Ray Grow Grant or the grant to attend the NRAEF’s annual ProStart Professional Development course or apply for a Florida ProStart Mini Grant.
  3. COAs: The Certificate of Achievement portal in MyProStart is only open to educators and students from confirmed ProStart programs.

The survey closes on November 6, so don’t wait! All survey completers will receive $800 in free foodsafety training from the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Ed Foundation while supplies last.

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.

CLICK HERE for more information and to register. 

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.

ProStart JumpStart logoProStart JumpStart Grant from NRAEF

Interested in taking eight ProStart® students to the 2026 National Restaurant Association Show for a four-day immersive experience? Applications for the 2026 JumpStart Grant are now open  through November 12, 2025.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s JumpStart program provides a grant to one ProStart school to take up to eight students and two chaperones to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago for a four-day immersive industry experience. The JumpStart grant covers travel, accommodations, participation fees, and up to $5,000 for additional expenses. During the 2026 Show, May 15-18, 2026, participating ProStart students will explore the vast show’s exhibits, meet with industry experts, and JumpStart their career journeys.

Launched in 2025, the JumpStart grant is open only to current ProStart program schools. Students must be current ProStart students and 16 years of age or older at the time of the event. The winning school will have demonstrated how this opportunity will have a positive impact on their ProStart students and how it will help launch and support their careers in the industry.

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 UCF Rosen College

Campus Refurbishment and Campus Tour Update

Our neighborhood is changing, and so are we. With brand new hotels and restaurants popping up all around us (plus a new theme park in our backyard!), UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management is right in the middle of the action. So, not to be outdone, we’re getting a refresh of our own with new spaces and learning environments fit for the heart of hospitality.

While campus renovations are underway, we’re offering live virtual sessions where students can explore what life at Rosen College is really like. You’ll hear from current students, find out what’s happening in the hospitality industry around us, and see why we were just ranked #1 in the world for hospitality and hotel management by CEOWorld Magazine.

This session is for students interested in pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Management, Event Management, Hospitality Management, Lodging and Restaurant Management, or Theme Park & Attraction Management. Join us online and see what’s new, what’s coming, and why now is the perfect time to be part of Rosen College — because their story starts here.

*In-person campus tours are not available during the renovations to campus.

Application Information:

Freshman applicants are encouraged to apply to UCF through the Early Action Process. Visit https://www.ucf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/freshman/ for details about the admissions criteria. The Early Action Application Deadline is October 15th. The Materials Deadline is November 15th. Early Action Decision Notification Date is December 5th.

Virtual Prospective Student Information Sessions are offered on select Wednesdays at 4 p.m. Visit https://www.ucf.edu/admissions/undergraduate/info-sessions/#live-info-session-prospective to register for an upcoming session.

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

FCCLA 2025-2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

https://servsuccess.com/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

ProStart Teacher Training 

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 2026                 Keiser University, Sarasota