Community Involvement

 ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities and practical skills to open doors for fulfilling careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. The curriculum teaches all facets of the industry, as well as provides students with on-the-job experiences where they can apply their classroom knowledge in real world situations.

The National ProStart Invitational, held each spring, showcases the talent of the top ProStart students as they compete in culinary and management events. Annually, more than $1 million in scholarships are awarded to the top five teams in both events from NRAEF and attending colleges.

• Culinary teams have 60 minutes to prepare a three-course meal using only two butane burners, while also competing in knife skills and poultry fabrication.
• Management teams develop an original restaurant concept and apply critical thinking skills to challenges managers face in day-to-day operations.

The Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational, held each winter, is our state’s qualifier for the national competition. ProStart schools across the state are invited to send teams of 2-5 students to compete in the culinary and management events. The first place winning team in each division moves on to represent Pennsylvania at the National ProStart Invitational.

The sixth annual Pennsylvania ProStart Student Invitational was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA. 

If you are a high school instructor or administrator, call or email Director of Education Hope Sterner at (800) 345-5353 or hsterner@prla.org.
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If you are an industry professional, then you can do the following:

• sponsor Pennsylvania ProStart
• hire program students and graduates
• sponsor a class by guest lecturing or hosting a field trip
• act as a mentor

These are just a few ways you, as an industry professional, can participate. Contact Hope Sterner, director of education, at (800) 345-5353 or hsterner@prla.org for more ways you can participate in Pennsylvania ProStart.

For additional information about ProStart, visit the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation website at: chooserestaurants.org/prostart. 

Educational culinary, pastry arts, & hospitality facilities are always looking for members to sit on their advisory boards. These boards usually meet two times a year and are given opportunities to present demonstrations, judge competitions, advise instructional staff, and evaluate state testing exams (NOCTI).  All make a huge positive impact on young culinarians’ lives.

Participating schools:

Post-secondary: HACC, YTI, & Penn College of Technology.

Secondary: Lebanon, Lancaster, Dauphin, & Cumberland Perry CTC’s, Carlisle High, & Milton Hershey.

Chapter Contact: Chef Brian D. Peffley CEPC, CCE, AAC at: bpeffley@lcctc.edu

Chapter Contact: Chef Autumn Patti at: arpatti@hacc.edu