BOCES Culinary Students Finish 2nd at National ProStart Invitational

Culinary Arts and Hospitality students from the Washington-
Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES Southern Adirondack Education Center finished as
national runners up at the seventh annual National ProStart Student Invitational held April
24-26, 2008 in San Diego, California.


Photo Caption: The 2008 WSWHE BOCES ProStart Management Team of (left to right) Jamie Norton, Breanna Donovan, Greg Hutchinson, Ryan Mercado, and Nick Green celebrate their first place finish at the New York State ProStart Competition. The team went on to finish second in the nation at the National ProStart Student Invitational in San Diego, California.


Breanna Donovan of Glens Falls, Nick Green of Hartford, Greg Hutchinson of Argyle, Ryan Mercado of Granville, and Jamie Norton of Argyle represented New York State in the management division testing their teamwork, communication skills, and knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry against 29 other teams from across the country. The competition consisted of two different events over two days. In the case study portion, students were presented with a hypothetical restaurant scenario and given 30 minutes to prepare a response in front of a panel of industry experts. The second portion of the competition, the Quiz Bowl, featured two rounds of game show style questions and answers.

Each member of the team received a medal and scholarships ranging in value from $4,500 to
$14,000 depending upon each student’s choice of college. These totals are in addition to the awards garnered at the state-level competition.

This is the fourth consecutive year a team from the Southern Adirondack Education Center has
qualified for the national competition having placed 9th, 6th, and 4th in the three years preceding. This year’s efforts were once again under the direction of Chef-Instructor Charles Jones and Mentor Casey Thorne.

The ProStart program, administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and state restaurant associations, is a two-year curriculum designed to teach high school students the management skills needed for a career in the restaurant and food service industry. The program combines classroom instruction with mentored worksite experiences, and is currently available in more than 1,600 schools across 47 states, territories, and districts. For more information, visit www.weareprostart.org.

Culinary Arts is one of 24 Career and Technical Education programs offered by the Washington- Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES (WSWHE BOCES). The Southern Adirondack Education Center in Hudson Falls is one of two Career and Technical Education centers operated by WSWHE BOCES. Any high school student enrolled in one of the 31 component school districts is eligible for admission to the Southern Adirondack Education Center or the F. Donald Myers Education Center in Saratoga Springs through his or her home school. Adults may apply to the program and location of their choice – admission is granted on a space-available basis. For more information, visit www.wswheboces.org.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Sylvia, Public Information Specialist
WSWHE BOCES
1153 Burgoyne Avenue
Fort Edward, NY 12828
(518) 746-3857 fax: (518) 746-3855
msylvia@wswheboces.org