Back in February we were happy to announce that CCI would be a sponsor for the ProStart Program. Fast forward to the weekend of the National ProStart Invitational and the CCI team is flying over to sunny California! None of us had much of an idea of what to expect but I can tell you we were absolutely blown away! The energy, the passion and the eagerness to learn are just a few things that stood out from every student at the competition!

Check out this video on ProStart® through the eyes of sponsors, Canada Cutlery Inc.

The following information was taken from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

WHAT IS PROSTART AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

For those of you who don’t know, the National ProStart Invitational® is the country’s premier high school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts. The National ProStart Invitational is the finale of a nationwide series of state competitions hosted by partner state restaurant associations.

Two Challenging Competitions

The National ProStart Invitational is composed of two distinct competitions – management and culinary – that showcase the most important skills needed on either side of the restaurant and food service industry.

Management

Management teams develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. Next, their problem solving skills are tested as they quickly solve challenges faced by managers daily.

Culinary

The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. There is no room for error as they are evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety and sanitation.

Competition Rewards

The top five teams from the culinary and management competitions were awarded generous educational scholarships to help further their careers in the restaurant and food service industry. In 2013, more than $1.4 million in scholarships were awarded to students by the NRAEF and leading academic institutions.

Winners also went home with a paring knife from CCI’s Superior Culinary Master™ Euro Culinary Series! Teams also had a chance to win a Baking Kit, Knife Kit and Garnishing Kit at the CCI booth at the Business Expo during the “ProStart Photo Booth Contest”.

2015 National ProStart Invitational Results

First Place Management: Wando High School, Mount Pleasant, S.C.
First Place Culinary: Olathe North High School, Olathe, Kan.

Second Place Management: San Diego High School, San Diego, Calif.
Second Place Culinary: South Forsyth High School, Cumming, GA

Third Place Management: Standley Lake High School, Westminster, Colo.
Third Place Culinary: Polaris Career Center, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Fourth Place Management: New Caney High School, New Caney, Texas
Fourth Place Culinary: Anderson Career and Technology Center, Williamston, S.C.

Fifth Place Management: Plymouth Canton Educational Park, Canton, Mich.
Fifth Place Culinary: Simon Sanchez High School, Territory of Guam

The Official 2015 National ProStart Invitational video:

CCI was so proud to sponsor and donate knives and kits as an expression of our commitment to the education and training of future culinary professionals! We wish the best of luck to all students as they pursue their dreams in the culinary world!

For more information on ProStart or the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, click here.

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