Wekiva High School students shine at statewide ProStart competition, part of $2.1 million scholarship celebration

In Summary:

Wekiva High School students delivered a standout performance at the 25th Annual Florida ProStart Competition, earning 4th Place Overall and 2nd Place in the prestigious UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Competition. The statewide event, hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation, brought together more than 330 students from nearly 40 high schools and awarded over $2.1 million in scholarships. Wekiva’s success highlights the strength of its hospitality and culinary training program and reinforces Central Florida’s role in developing future industry leaders.

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The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) proudly announces the winners of the annual high school ProStart Culinary Team Competition.

Last weekend, more than 330 students from nearly 40 Florida high schools competed in Culinary, Management, Edible Centerpiece, and Waiter’s Relay events at the 25th annual ProStart event. At the Salute to Excellence Award ceremony, winners were offered more than $2.1 million in scholarships from the Culinary Institute of America, Culinary Institute of Virginia, Florida International University, Keiser University, Nicholls State University, and UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality. First-place teams in culinary and management will represent Florida at the national ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C., this April.

Related: Wekiva Culinary is awarded the Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant.

“For more than 25 years, this competition has taken students beyond the classroom and into the real-world process of creating a restaurant concept from start to finish,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. “From market research and branding to financials, menu development, and marketing strategy, these teams demonstrate the kind of creativity, discipline, and professionalism our industry depends on. Each year, we are inspired by the depth of talent and the educators who help guide these students toward meaningful careers in hospitality.”

“These competitions are more than an event; they are an investment in the future of Florida’s hospitality industry,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of FRLA. “By connecting students with real-world business challenges and industry mentors, we are building the next generation of culinary innovators, restaurant operators, and hospitality leaders. As our state’s economy continues to rely on a strong tourism and hospitality industry, programs like ProStart ensure that passionate, well-trained talent is ready to lead it forward. Florida is proud to host the largest ProStart program in the nation, and we look forward to cheering on these top winners at the national competition this spring.”

These events would not be possible without the support of our Global Sponsors: Keiser University, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, Universal Orlando, St. Thomas University, the World Equestrian Center, and Fresh From Florida. Event sponsors include Ecolab, Florida Atlantic University, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, and the Florida State University Dedman College of Hospitality.

25^th ANNUAL FLORIDA PROSTART COMPETITION WINNERS:

OVERALL WINNERS

1^st Place          Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Instructor Paul Bonanno

2^nd Place         St. Lucie West Centennial High School (Port St. Lucie): Instructor Christina Gedke-Balaschak

3^rd Place          Martin County High School (Stuart): Instructor Ashley Sesta

3^rd Place          Lyman High School (Longwood): Instructor Dane Brevoort

4^th Place          Wekiva High School (Apopka): Instructor Christopher Bates

5^th Place          George Jenkins High School (Lakeland): Instructor Sherry Scott

UCF ROSEN COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT COMPETITION

1^st Place Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Toby Highsmith, Macey Riley, Dayana Hernandez, Abigail Emin, and Pooja Gopinathrao, Instructor Paul Bonanno

2^nd Place         Wekiva High School (Apopka): Parker Masangkay, Zariah Edwards, and Amina Ali, Instructor Christopher Bates

3^rd Place         Martin County High School (Stuart): Sophia Garcia, Jennifer Sanchez, Zoey Krisel, Claire Richter, and Monica Sanchez, Instructor Ashley Sesta

4^th Place          Durant High School (Plant City): Kylie Byerwalters, Anna Sneed, Andrew Johnston, Kaitlyn Black, and Ethan Mettler, Instructor Ralph Underwood

5^th Place          South Lake High School (Groveland): Noelix Hernandez, Alicia Beepath, Bobby Alonso, Amani Cintron, and Leabelle Popovich, Instructor John Thunberg

Key Points:

• Wekiva High School placed 4th Overall at the 25th Annual Florida ProStart Competition.
• The school earned 2nd Place in the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Competition.
• More than 330 students from nearly 40 Florida high schools competed across the state.
• Over $2.1 million in scholarships were offered to participating students.
• Florida operates the largest ProStart program in the nation, serving approximately 30,000 students annually.

ProStart is a nationwide high school career program educating nearly 222,000 students in culinary arts and restaurant management skills. Florida’s ProStart program is the largest in the nation, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled annually. ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities and sets a high standard of excellence for the industry’s next generation of leaders. Yearly, students compete on state and national levels to showcase skills learnt in their classroom kitchens.

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks, and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s $111.7 billion hospitality industry, which employs nearly 2 million people. Dedicated to safeguarding its members' needs, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure their voices are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff® and its subsidiary, RCS Training, a FRLA subsidiary. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.