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5
Fall 2012 Issue
The school year is back in session, and
over 2,100 students are looking for jobs.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Restaurant Association
Education Foundation (ORAEF) is excited
about the supporting 56 Ohio ProStart®
certified schools and 74 teachers. This
first semester, we will provide a Teacher’s
Institute, hosted by Sysco Cincinnati, where
teachers will learn about industry best
practices, job placement through the Ohio
ProStart Preferred Partner program and the
upcoming Ohio ProStart Invitational. Our
partners Gordon Food Service will again
support the invitational by serving as the
premier supporter while The Columbus
Culinary Institute and Sysco will serve as
culinary and management event supporters.
To show how our high school ProStart
educational partners believe that ProStart
is the gold standard and a valuable
investment for the Ohio Restaurant
Association (ORA), I asked our 2013-2014
Ohio ProStart Teachers of Distinction why
their schools choose to participate in the
ProStart program.
From the Educators Themselves
“ProStart brings the classroom, industry,
students and parents together,” EHOVE’s
Michael Edwards said. “This partnership
is the reason I have been involved with
the program for 11 years. ProStart is
great for young adults who will one day
become professionals using these skills as
a foundation.”
“Polaris Career Center is about providing
top-notch programming,” said Chef Chris
Olszewski. “ProStart has it all: a superb
curriculum for educating our students
that leads to further opportunity through
a nationally recognized certification, a
fantastic student competition and the
support of major business partners through
the ORA.”
“FLOUR Power – I’m a peace-loving
individual; people are generally at peace
when they have good food in front of them,”
said Columbus Downtown High School’s
Rebecca Vickory. “Ohio ProStart is the best
tool educators have at their disposal.”
“I am involved in ProStart because it
gives my program industry support and
credibility,” said Deborah Bates, Lancaster
High School. “Employers are lined up to
employ my students, which is very exciting
for me.”
“I have found the ProStart Program works
so well for me because of the flexibility of
the curriculum, the industry connections
and the opportunity for the students to
compete and network at the Ohio ProStart
Invitational and other sponsored events,”
said Chef David Eichorn of Eastland Career
Center.
“I am involved with the ProStart program
because it gives students both real work
experiences as well as a well-rounded
educational background to be successful
in industry and post secondary education,”
said Carrie Hamilton, Apollo Career
Center’s ProStart instructor. “It truly is a
professional start!”
Administrators Agree
“ProStart offers a comprehensive curriculum
combined with hand-on skill development
that prepared our students for today’s
workplace,” said Gloria Harms, Office of
Career Education at Akron Public Schools.
“The standardized testing, as well as skill
competency checklist, creates a high level
of achievement with ProStart Certification.
Students develop their culinary skills and
knowledge under the tutelage of their high
school instructor, and are further refined by
working alongside their industry employer.
It’s relevant and rigorous, but achievable
for our students with the assistance of
teachers and employers.”
Our Ohio ProStart students are well-
rounded and receive a quality education
from the dedication, knowledge and support
of our Ohio ProStart certified teachers. As
a 501(c)3, we always need to assess what
we are offering and examine how we can
improve the program to meet the students’,
schools’ and industry’s needs. These
testimonials tell us we are heading in the
right direction and should continue on this
path. Together, we are making a difference,
and continued industry support will help
us maintain this fine educational program.
Please consider partnering with the ORAEF
to help us train our future workforce.
In my opinion, Chef Olszewski sums it up
perfectly: “We are involved with ProStart
all for one reason: the students! ProStart
gives my students the opportunities to
master the skills needed
to advance in a career
they love.”
By Sharon K.M. Fish
Executive Director,
The Ohio
Restaurant Association
Education Foundation
Education is Our Foundation
Ohio ProStart Students are Back
to School and Looking for Jobs
By investing in the program today, you strengthen the capabilities
of tomorrow’s foodservice professionals