In a continuing effort to equip high school students with the tools and knowledge they’ll need to become the future leaders of the restaurant industry, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s career technical education program, ProStart, is now available throughout the United States.
North Dakota is the 50th state to offer the two-year program, which teaches high school students basic culinary techniques and hospitality management skills as they begin their educations and industry careers. Today it is available in 1,700 high schools and career technical centers and reaches more than 118,000 students.
In addition to the curriculum, ProStart also offers students the opportunity to apply for scholarships as well as compete in state and national team competitions.
“This program exposes students to endless opportunities,” said Rob Gifford, the NRA’s and NRAEF’s executive vice president of strategic operations and philanthropy. “It prepares them to enter the workforce or pursue higher education in support of their goals. Whether they want to be chefs, bakers, servers, managers, accountants, marketers or a business owner … ProStart is the first in a series of doors open to young people choosing a rewarding career in foodservice.”
According to recent NRAEF research, 70 percent of ProStart students say they plan to pursue post-secondary educations and one in four indicate they plan to own their own restaurants or businesses one day.
“ProStart has a proven track record, and is one of the largest career and technical education programs of its kind,” Gifford said. “We are very pleased to be able to connect industry to the classroom and direct young people to the careers available to them in our industry.”
For more information on ProStart, visit the NRAEF website.
