Rockwall ISD Culinary Arts team places 2nd in National ProStart Competition

Rockwall ISD Culinary Arts team places 2nd in National ProStart Competition
Back row (left to right) – Chef Cody Hayes, Industry Mentor; Mike Via, RHHS student Cameron Davis and RHHS student Evan Scott. Front Row (left to right) – RHHS student Preslie Mann, RHS student Rachel Bristow, RHS student Madison Alexander and Chef Avery Manross

(ROCKWALL, TX — May 4, 2018) Rockwall ISD Culinary Arts team recently competed against 45 other teams nationwide in the National ProStart Competition where they placed second in the nation, which is the highest a Texas team has ever earned in the 15-year history.

Finishing second in the nation solidifies my team’s college and career goals, as they received multiple scholarships, including $4,000 from Coca-Cola, $1,000 from Burger King McLamore Foundation and a full-tuition scholarship to Sullivan University, to name just a few.

In February, the RISD culinary arts team earned first place at the regional competition, earning the first-ever perfect score by any team in TEXAS ProStart history, qualifying them for a spot at the state finals where they would defend their state title. And defend it, they did. The Rockwall ISD Culinary Arts Team are now back-to-back state champions.

Rockwall ISD’s culinary arts program participates in the ProStart program through the National Restaurant Association’s, and the Texas Restaurant Association’s education foundations. In Texas alone, there are 255 high schools, totaling approximately 20,000 students using the ProStart curriculum, and of those 20,000 students, the strongest compete in the Texas ProStart Invitational each year.

To compete, each culinary team must develop a unique menu for two identical three-course meals, complete with recipes and food costs, and in addition to that, they must prepare that meal in 60 minutes using only two butane burners—with no electricity or running water. They are evaluated on their menu, the degree of difficulty, food safety and sanitation, knife skills, cooking procedures, food costing, teamwork and organization, and taste and presentation of their meal.

Competing students are as follows:
Madison Alexander; Senior (RHS)
Evan Scott, Senior (RHHS)
Preslie Mann, Junior (RHHS)
Cameron Davis, Senior (RHHS)
Rachel Bristow, Sophomore (RHS)

Submitted press release.

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