ProStart - Iowa Restaurant Association

ProStart

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ProStart is a two-year educational program supported by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in partnership with state restaurant associations. The career-building program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce.  Currently there are three Iowa high schools who use the ProStart program—Waukee, Des Moines Central Campus and Davenport Central.

 

ProStart students gain experience and recognition in several ways:

  • Classroom Experience-- Students learn fundamental culinary and management skills in the classroom. Many university hospitality programs accept ProStart courses for college credit.
  • Mentored Work Experience—Students receive mentor support, character developme-nt and real-world skills that give them a head start toward a career in the industry.
  • State ProStart Invitational—Students participate in a culinary and management competition in effort to represent Iowa the National ProStart invitational.
  • National ProStart Invitational--Students put their skills to the ultimate test in the National ProStart Invitational. This demanding culinary and management competition invites top students to represent their state, with winning teams competing for scholarships.

 For more information on the ProStart program, visit www.prostart.restaurant.org.