Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2023
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Saginaw Career Complex Students Celebrate Eighth in the Management Category at National ProStart Hospitality Competition
CANTON, MICH. — SAGINAW, MICH. — Saginaw Career Complex’s culinary student team earned eighth place in the Management category at the National ProStart® Invitational in Washington D.C., May 2-4.
The team demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry by developing and presenting a new restaurant concept to a panel of judges. The team, consisting of seniors TeArika Miree, Emma Pappas and Emma Dupuis, presented their concept through verbal presentations, posters and a Q&A session with the judges.
The Saginaw Career Complex students presented their “Monster Fries” food truck concept that would appear at scheduled popup food and music events they called “Beats & Eats.” They presented a detailed plan for their business which included:
The annual National ProStart Invitational (NSPI) is the country’s premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts. Nearly 400 student competitors put their skills to the test in front of industry leaders, NRAEF Trustees, state restaurant associations, and family and friends. This comes with the chance of earning scholarships from the nation’s best culinary and restaurant management programs.
“I am proud of the students and the hard work that went into developing and presenting their Monster Fries concept,” said Julie Ivan, culinary arts instructor from Saginaw Career Complex. “There was fierce competition and this team represented Michigan well among students across the country.”
At the National competition, the management teams must develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. Their problem-solving skills will be tested as they will have to quickly solve challenges that hospitality industry managers face daily.
Students must impress judges from leading industry corporations, colleges and universities with skills that they have developed through ProStart. The National ProStart Invitational is composed of two distinct competitions, management and culinary.
The top five teams from the management competition are awarded educational scholarships to help further their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. In 2022, more than $200,000 in scholarships were awarded to the winning students. All competitors are encouraged to take full advantage of competing at the National ProStart Invitational by networking with other students and industry professionals in attendance.
The team demonstrated their knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry by developing and presenting a new restaurant concept to a panel of judges. The team, consisting of seniors TeArika Miree, Emma Pappas and Emma Dupuis, presented their concept through verbal presentations, posters and a Q&A session with the judges.
The Saginaw Career Complex students presented their “Monster Fries” food truck concept that would appear at scheduled popup food and music events they called “Beats & Eats.” They presented a detailed plan for their business which included:
- The type of establishment
- Floor plan
- Description of interior and décor
- Hours of operation
- Meals served and the type of cuisine
- Menu featuring 12 items and pricing
- Recipes and costing for one menu item
- A photograph of a menu item
- An organizational chart for the business
- SWOT analysis and marketing tactics to launch the concept including poster with the menu and floorplan
- A poster displaying one marketing tactic
- Description of the target market and the restaurant’s purpose and impact
The annual National ProStart Invitational (NSPI) is the country’s premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts. Nearly 400 student competitors put their skills to the test in front of industry leaders, NRAEF Trustees, state restaurant associations, and family and friends. This comes with the chance of earning scholarships from the nation’s best culinary and restaurant management programs.
“I am proud of the students and the hard work that went into developing and presenting their Monster Fries concept,” said Julie Ivan, culinary arts instructor from Saginaw Career Complex. “There was fierce competition and this team represented Michigan well among students across the country.”
At the National competition, the management teams must develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. Their problem-solving skills will be tested as they will have to quickly solve challenges that hospitality industry managers face daily.
Students must impress judges from leading industry corporations, colleges and universities with skills that they have developed through ProStart. The National ProStart Invitational is composed of two distinct competitions, management and culinary.
The top five teams from the management competition are awarded educational scholarships to help further their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. In 2022, more than $200,000 in scholarships were awarded to the winning students. All competitors are encouraged to take full advantage of competing at the National ProStart Invitational by networking with other students and industry professionals in attendance.
About ProStart
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders. In Michigan, 70 high schools and career centers use the ProStart curriculum with more than 5,000 students participating. For more information about ProStart, contact Amanda Smith at 800-968-9668 or visit www.mrlaef.org/prostart.html.
About the Michigan Hospitality Foundation
The Michigan Hospitality Foundation, formerly known as the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation, seeks to enhance the hospitality industry's service to the public through education, community engagement, and promotion of career opportunities. The MHF also prepares high school students for the challenges of a career in restaurants and foodservice through ProStart, a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and the industry. ProStart students learn vital kitchen skills, including food safety and knife cuts, and important management lessons, such as menu development and marketing. For more information, visit https://www.mihf.org.
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders. In Michigan, 70 high schools and career centers use the ProStart curriculum with more than 5,000 students participating. For more information about ProStart, contact Amanda Smith at 800-968-9668 or visit www.mrlaef.org/prostart.html.
About the Michigan Hospitality Foundation
The Michigan Hospitality Foundation, formerly known as the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation, seeks to enhance the hospitality industry's service to the public through education, community engagement, and promotion of career opportunities. The MHF also prepares high school students for the challenges of a career in restaurants and foodservice through ProStart, a nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and the industry. ProStart students learn vital kitchen skills, including food safety and knife cuts, and important management lessons, such as menu development and marketing. For more information, visit https://www.mihf.org.
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