Page 8 - OhioRA 2012SpringFlipBook

6 www.ohiorestaurant.org Spring 2012 Issue

Students Shine During 2012 Ohio ProStart ® Invitational

This year’s winners embodied the highest level of professionalism, commitment

The Ohio ProStart ® Invitational was held Jan. 29-30, 2012 during the North America Pizza and Ice Cream Show (NAPICS). ProStart students from around the state participated in the two-day long event, which showcased both culinary and management talents.

Two panels of judges, comprised of industry leaders, chefs, college educators and foodservice professionals, observed the students in both culinary and management competitions. After evaluating a long list of criteria, the judges selected the teams that scored the highest and stood out from the crowd.

Mike Haunert, of Sysco Cincinnati and a board member of both the Ohio Restaurant Association and the Ohio Restaurant Association Education Foundation, said that this year’s competitors continued to raise the bar and made the judges’ jobs more diffcult than they were in previous years.

“I am more inspired by the efforts of our ProStart students every year,” said Sharon K.M. Fish. “I’m constantly awestruck to see these young people rise to the challenges of the tasks placed before them. Whether it’s the thrill of the culinary competition or the ingenuity required for presenting unique management concepts, I am always left dumbfounded by the quality of our students and the educators who support them.”

Key supporters of this year’s invitational included Gordon Food Service, who served as the premier sponsor; the Columbus Culinary Institute at Bradford and Sysco.

This year’s winner in the culinary competition was Polaris Career Center under the direction of Chef Chris Olszewski. The second place winner was Penta Career Center under the mentorship of Chef Janea Makowski. Tolles Career and Technical Center, under the leadership of Chef Kathy Zay, placed third and fourth place was awarded to Springfeld Clark Career and Technical Center under the direction of David Hay and Scott Rohrer. The ffth place winner of this year’s competition was Beachwood High School under the mentorship of Danette McHale and Kortez Wilson.

Polaris Career Center, under the direction of Chef Chris Olszewski, also captured this year’s frst place award in the management competition. Second place was awarded to R.G. Drage under the guidance of Dennis Finley. Tolles Career and Technical Center, under Chef Kathy Zay’s direction, received third place while the team recognized for fourth place was Scarlet Oaks Career Center, overseen by Chris Johnson. Fifth place was awarded to Cuyahoga Valley Career Center under the direction of Barbara Hummer.

The recipient of the Ohio ProStart 2012 Teacher of Excellence Award was Carrie Hamilton of Apollo Career Center.

Himes Vending and A Catered Event presented the Top Management Award to Shauna Palmer from Tolles Career and Technical Center. Shailyn Grisamore, from South-Western Career Academy, received the Top Leadership Award from The Rusty Bucket Tavern and Restaurant. Dexter-Russell awarded Top Poultry Fabrication to Ricky Canter from Tolles Career and Technical Center. Erika Ross from Eastland Career Center captured awards from both Dexter-Russell in top knife skills and from the Akron-Canton Chefs Association of the American Culinary Federation’s as top culinary student.

Next year, the Ohio ProStart Invitational will be held Feb. 17-18, 2013 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in concert with NAPICS.

Polaris Career Center ProStart students captured frst place in the management competition under the direction of Chef Chris Olszewski and Instructor Kathy Kostur. Pictured (from left to right): NRAEF Chef Greg Beachey; Mike Arnold and Jerry Cagle, Gordon Food Service; Chef Chris Olszweski; Instructor Kathy Kostur; Nicole Magda; Alec Buchek; Daikel Holton; Collin Bodi; Ashley Buehner; Larry Keane and Mike Haunert, Sysco; and Chef Matt Schenk, Columbus Culinary Institute at the Bradford School.

In the culinary competition, Polaris Career Center’s team, under the direction of Chef Olszewski, received frst place honors during the 2012 Ohio ProStart Invitational. Pictured (from left to right) NRAEF Chef Greg Beachey; Mike Arnold and Jerry Cagle, Gordon Food Service; Chef Chris Olszweski; Rich Dimauro; Allison Shoemaker; Stephy Gaspar; Ian McGaffrey; Been Moorman; Chef Matt Schenk, Columbus Culinary Institute at the Bradford School; Mike Haunert and Larry Keane, Sysco.

Chef Carrie Hamilton, Apollo Career Center, was named the 2012 Ohio ProStart Teacher of Excellence.