Eight local students representing the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Culinary Arts class joined 53 teams of their peers from 20 career and technical education centers across Michigan on March 22 and March 23 for the annual Michigan ProStart Competition in Lansing. Hosted by the Michigan Restaurant Association Education Support Foundation (MRA ESF), the students competed in multiple events that tested their knowledge of the ProStart curriculum; a two-year program for high school students that unites the classroom and industry to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders.
The high school juniors and seniors from Clare and Gladwin
counties were divided into two teams – one competing in the Management portion
of the competition and the other in Nutrition. On the Management team was
Beaverton senior Nicole Martin, along with Gladwin seniors Heather Baker,
Brandon Bentley, and Cassie Melean. The
Nutrition team included Clare junior Mehna Orr, Harrison senior Noah Cesal, and
Harrison juniors Dylan Atwell and Marissa Mathews.
The Management team first competed in the ServSafe
“Jeopardy!” style knowledge bowl sponsored by the Van Eerden Foodservice
Company. This question-and-answer event tested the participants’ knowledge of
critically important issues of food safety and sanitation. Baker, Bentley,
Martin, and Melean then took part in the management/entrepreneurship portion of
the competition, sponsored by Gordon Food Service. Students demonstrated their
knowledge of the industry by developing a restaurant proposal, delivering a
verbal presentation, and applying critical thinking skills to challenges that
restaurant managers face in day-to-day operations.
During the Nutrition component of the ProStart competition, Atwell, Cesal, Mathews, and
Orr created a menu and prepared a three-course meal that met the National
Restaurant Association’s Kids’ Live Well and USDA menu criteria.
Ultimately, the Management team placed sixth and the
Nutrition team placed second in their respective categories.
“We are so proud of our students,” said Culinary Arts
Instructor Heidi Rocha. “They not only worked very hard and performed well, but
in many ways demonstrated strong character, maturity, and compassion towards
others. We witnessed them connecting with other ProStart students, shaking
hands, and even encouraging other teams who didn't perform as well. It was
definitely a meaningful experience for everyone.”
Rocha thanked Chef Fred Garcia of Tipsy Bear Bistro in West
Branch and Clare County Senior Services Dietician Carol Majewski for mentoring
the student teams as they prepared for the competition.
Rocha also expressed appreciation for those who sponsored
the teams’ participation in the ProStart Competition:
Athey Precision
Bill & Teresa Jackson
Create It - Beaverton
Cynthia Burns Consulting LLC
Kehoe Realty - Gladwin
Lambert's Meat Market - Gladwin
MacLean's Mercantile - Harrison
Mr. Rooter
National Pipeline Services
Ponderosa Steakhouse - Clare
Culinary Arts is one of nine career and technical education programs
offered to local high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career
Center, a program of the Clare-Gladwin RESD.
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