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Ten lucky teams have walked away with scholarships totalling more than $50,000 after a weekend of intense competition at the annual National ProStart Invitational (NPSI) challenge in Charleston, South Carolina.
Five culinary and five restaurant management teams were selected from more than 400 students, representing teams from the U.S., Guam and Germany, after putting their skills to the test in front of a packed house of supporters and under the scrutiny of industry leading judges.
The Winners
Team Ohio from Polaris Career Center won first place in the Culinary Competition and Team Michigan from Saginaw Career Complex won first place in the Management Competition (see the complete list of all winners below).
Having battled against 140,00 students at state and regional levels in the initial stages, the victorious students were rewarded with individual scholarships of up to $5,000 to further their formal education in the restaurant/food service sector, as well as being recognised by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) as the US's best.
In order to take the winning title the Management Teams were tasked with developing and presenting concepts for a new restaurant, while the Culinary Teams were challenged with creating unique menus for a three-course meal which they were required prepare in just 60 minutes using only two butane burners (with no electricity or running water!).
Speaking of the results Rob Gifford, Executive Vice President, NRAEF: "ProStart students represent the next generation of talent and leaders in restaurants and foodservice and we look forward to watching them achieve their dreams and finding a home in this amazing industry.”
See the winners in action:
The 2017 National ProStart Invitational Winners:
First Place – Culinary
Team Ohio from Polaris Career Center
First Place – Restaurant Management
Team Michigan from Saginaw Career Complex
Second Place – Culinary
Team Guam from Okkodo High School
Second Place – Restaurant Management
Team South Carolina from Anderson Career & Technology Center
Third Place – Culinary
Team Texas from Rockwall High School
Third Place – Restaurant Management
Team Maryland from George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology
Fourth Place – Culinary
Team Kansas from Olathe Public School
Fourth Place – Restaurant Management
Team Missouri from Parkway North High School
Fifth Place – Culinary
Team South Carolina from Anderson Career & Technology Center
Fifth Place – Restaurant Management
Team Connecticut from Wilbur Cross High School
