ProStart teams from Milton Hershey School (Hershey) and Jefferson County-DuBois AVTS (Reynoldsville) placed first at the 2018 Pennsylvania ProStart Competition in culinary arts and restaurant management, respectively. Students competed February 23, in State College, Pa., to win more than $84,000 in scholarships and the opportunity to compete against the best teams from other states at the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s National ProStart Invitational, April 27–29, 2018, in Providence, R.I.
Twelve ProStart teams from throughout Pennsylvania gathered in State College to compete in either the culinary arts or restaurant management divisions. Culinary teams prepare a three-course meal in 60 minutes, without access to running water or electricity using only two butane burners, and management teams present a business proposal for an original restaurant concept to a panel of industry judges.
“These students practice all year for this competition,” says Hope Sterner, director of education. “They come in early, afterschool, and on weekends because this is what they’re passionate about and they want to do their very best.”
C.A. Curtze Company, a food service distributor headquartered in Erie, Pa., and the Hershey Company were the event’s platinum sponsors. Ecolab, Gordon Food Service, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews, UnitedHealthcare, Auntie Anne’s Inc., Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Pepsico, SYSCO Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Technical College, Westmoreland County Community College, Gunter Wilhelm, Mercer Culinary, New Chef, and Utz Quality Foods were additional event sponsors. •
If you are interested in learning more about ProStart or finding out how you can volunteer, please visit www.prla.org/prostart.
2018 Pennsylvania Prostart Competition Team Winners
First Place Management
Jefferson County-DuBois AVTS
First Place Culinary
Milton Hershey School
Second Place Culinary
Monroe Career Technical Institute
Second Place Management
Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center
Third Place Culinary
Jefferson County-DuBois AVTS
Third Place Management
Monroe Career Technical Institute
