South Carolina Culinary Team Places Fourth
at National ProStart Invitational

The South Carolina ProStart Culinary Team from Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant came in 4th Place at the Tenth Annual National ProStart Invitational held in Overland Park, Kansas, April 29 through May 1, 2011.  Team members Alexandra Jenkins, Sam Parris, Gavin Perry, Jillian Reilly, Mary Lassiter, led by teacher Julian Buckner previously won the Carolinas ProStart Invitational held in January in Myrtle Beach for the right to represent the state in the national competitions.

The National ProStart Invitational is composed of two distinct competitions: the culinary and management competitions. First-through fifth-place winning teams from each of the two events are awarded medals and over $1.5 million in scholarships to pursue a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. In 2011, 41 states and territories were represented and more than 300 students made their states proud by showcasing their true talent.

Each Wando team member received a $1,000 scholarship from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the Coca Cola Company. 

Teams participating in the culinary competition must demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in only 60 minutes. Their performance during the practical session is observed and rated by judges from leading colleges and universities.

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 is observed and rated by judges from leading colleges and universities and industry professionals.

North Myrtle Beach High School students Patty Franken, Meghan Holt, Rena Notareschi, Wesley Sambleson, and Haley Webster, led by teacher Connie Porter represented the state in the management competition after winning the state title in January.

"These talented students were put to the test during the intense, three-day competition and rose to the challenge. All of the competing students earned our respect through the talent, passion and professionalism they displayed throughout the competition," said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association. "These future leaders will be enormous assets to the industry as they advance in their education and careers."

More than 1,000 people were on hand to witness these future stars of the industry in action, including competitors, educators, mentors, state restaurant association representatives, judges, sponsors, industry representatives and friends and family. The National Restaurant Association’s National ProStart Invitational showcased the talents of top ProStart students as they competed in the culinary and management competitions. To qualify for the national competition, teams won first place in the state competitions held this year by their individual state restaurant associations.

For the first time in the national event’s history, the winning First Place teams in both competitions not only went to the same state – California – but the same high school representing that state.  The winning teams in the 2011 national competition were 1st Place Management, California; 2nd Place Management New Mexico; 3rd Place Management Watauga High School, North Carolina; 4th Place Management Michigan; and 5th Place Management, Florida.  First Place Culinary went to California; 2nd Place Culinary to Kansas; 3rd Place Culinary, Georgia; 4th Place Culinary, South Carolina; and 5th Place Culinary Washington State.

The National ProStart Invitational has grown from 100 students from 19 states since 2002.