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| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney or Stacy Gonda |
| March 16, 2006 |
517/482-5244 |
Mason-Lake students take first place at Michigan ProStart® Student Invitational in Battle Creek
National competition in Charlotte, NC is next stop for state champs
LANSING – A team of students from the Mason-Lake Intermediate School District took first place at the Michigan ProStart® Student Invitational, presented by the Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA) Educational Support Foundation at the McCamly Plaza Hotel in Battle Creek. Mason-Lake won a contest featuring 14 teams in a food service management competition.
The Michigan ProStart® Student Invitational is an annual competition that features teams of students from across Michigan testing their skills in culinary creation and situation management. The 2006 Michigan ProStart® Student Invitational took place on March 6 and 7.
The Mason-Lake ISD team demonstrated their ability to analyze management situations that contain business dilemmas and to present a resolution to professionals with experience in the hospitality industry. The teams demonstrated their knowledge of the hospitality industry by competing in a Jeopardy "Quiz Bowl" format.
Following their first place finish in the Michigan competition, the team will now head to Charlotte, North Carolina to compete against the very best teams from across the country at the National ProStart® Student Invitational taking place April 30 through May 2, 2006.
As the winning team, each member received college scholarships from some of the top culinary schools and programs in the country – including Ferris State University, Johnson and Wales University, Kendall College and the Orlando Culinary Academy – as well as the MRA Educational Support Foundation.
The winners also received Apple iPod Shuffles courtesy of the MRA Educational Support Foundation. Team members included Ashley Alexander, April Cocco, April Gajewski, and Tom Hinman. Amanda Carper was the alternate. They participated at this year’s event under the instruction of Lori LeRay.
The Michigan ProStart® Student Invitational is sponsored by the MRA, American Express, Gordon Food Service, HDS Services, the International Food Services Executives Association, Michaels and Associates, and SYSCO Companies of Michigan.
The ProStart® curriculum is a two-year curriculum designed to teach high school students the management skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Students participate in paid internships where they are mentored by industry managers. When students meet academic standards and complete a checklist of competencies, they are awarded the ProStart® National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce.
Founded in 1921, the Michigan Restaurant Association represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The foodservice industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 436,000 people and creating more than $11.3 billion in total annual sales. For more information, call (517) 482-5244.
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