FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2011

State High School Culinary and Management Competition Results Announced

23 schools and over 100 high school students put their culinary and management skills to the test in the ProStart® Invitational at the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo on Tuesday, March 22, 2011. 

This competition for students participating in a ProStart program at their high school consists of two components: a Management Competition and a Culinary Competition.  In the management competition, students demonstrate their knowledge of the hospitality industry by developing a business proposal for a new restaurant concept.  The proposal includes written and oral presentations, as well as a visual display. For the Culinary Competition, students have one hour to prepare a three-course meal. Students are judged by foodservice industry professionals and college educators on teamwork, presentation, cooking procedures, knife skills and sanitation.

Badger High School in Lake Geneva won first place in the Culinary Competition. Madison West High School won second place. Sheboygan North High School won third place.

Badger High School in Lake Geneva also won first place in the Management Competition.
Sun Prairie High School won second place. Pulaski High School won third place.

The ProStart Invitational is a showcase of the young talent in Wisconsin’s growing foodservice industry.  Over $1 million in scholarships was awarded to competitors.  The winning team in each of the two competitions are going on to compete in the National ProStart® Invitational in Overland Park, KS April 29 - May 1, 2011. 

The Wisconsin ProStart Invitational is made possible by the generous support of these sponsors:

US Foodservice (gold sponsor)
Culver's (national trip and management sponsor)
Gold'nPlump (table sponsor)

The following high schools had teams participating in the Wisconsin ProStart Student Invitational:

Badger High (Lake Geneva)
Campbellsport
Lincoln, Wisconsin Rapids
Madison West
Parkview (Orfordville)
Pulaski
Sheboygan Falls
Sheboygan North
Sheboygan South
Shorewood
South Milwaukee
Southern Door
Sun Prairie
Waterford
Watertown
Waukesha South
Waunakee
Wautoma
Wauwatosa East
West Bend West
West Bend East
Wilmot
Wisconsin Dells

An additional 5 high schools were in attendance at the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo to observe the ProStart competition and learn more about the foodservice industry.

The ProStart program, administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and state restaurant associations, is a two-year curriculum designed to teach high school students the skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.  Students also have the opportunity to participate in paid internships where industry managers mentor them.  When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and participate in at least 400 hours of a mentored work experience, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce.

Pictures of the 2011 winners are available on the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo site. Click here.

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The WRA Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1987 and is one of the nation’s largest state restaurant association foundations. The WRA EF vision is to advance professionalism through education, scholarships and community involvement to ensure the future success of the foodservice industry.

The ProStart® program, administered by National Restaurant Association Solutions, LLC and state restaurant associations, is a college prep, two-year curriculum designed to teach high school students the skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Students also have the opportunity to participate in paid internships where industry managers mentor them.