Biloxi High School Career Tech and Carl Keen Vocational Center Take Top Honors at Mississippi ProStart Invitational
Jackson, MS The Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association is pleased to announce that Biloxi High School Career Tech Center took the top prize in the First Annual ProStart Invitational.
14 teams from 12 schools across the state spent the day competing for over hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money from a list of colleges and culinary schools.
“The level of competition was amazing” said Mike Cashion, Executive Director, MS Hospitality & Restaurant Association. “Cashion adds, “The creativity and skill level of the students was outstanding. This competition prepares today’s students to be tomorrow’s restaurant professionals. With this type of talent in the state, the industry’s future is very bright.”
Teams participating in the culinary competition demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, along with executing knife and poultry-fabrication skills. Their performance during the practical sessions was observed and rated by judges from leading colleges and universities and industry professionals.
CULINARY WINNERS
1st Place Biloxi High Career Tech Center $43,000 in various scholarships
2nd Place Clinton Career Complex $23,750 in various scholarships
3rd Place Hancock County Vo-Tech $17,500 in various scholarships
Teams participating in the management competition demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a restaurant proposal, delivering a verbal presentation, and applying critical-thinking skills to challenges managers face in day-to-day operations. Their performance were observed and rated by judges from leading colleges and universities and industry professionals.
MANAGEMENT TEAM WINNERS
1st Place Carl Keen Vocational Center $31,000 in various scholarships
2nd Place Greenville Technical Center $23,750 in various scholarships
3rd Place Poplarville High School $17,500 in various scholarships
Scholarships were offered by a number of schools including, Mississippi University for Women, Northeast Ms. Community College, Johnson and Wales Culinary School, The New England Culinary Institute and the Art Institute of Tennessee-Nashville.
Both winning teams will be sent to Overland Park, Kan. to compete against 38 other teams across the country at the National ProStart Invitational taking place April 30-May 2, 2010.
Nationwide, 83,000 students in 47 states, territories and districts are served by ProStart, a two-year curriculum supported by the National Restaurant Association and state restaurant associations.
The program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. The career-building program is managed nationally by National Restaurant Association Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Restaurant Association. For more information on the ProStart program and National ProStart Invitational, please visit www.prostart.restaurant.org.
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