Teams of students from Brookings High School and Mitchell CTE are headed to a national competition in Providence, Rhode Island April 27-29 after taking top honors in the eleventh annual South Dakota ProStart Invitational.
The ProStart Invitational is an intense, fast-paced event, with teams vying for state titles in a culinary division and a business management division. Nearly 60 high school students participated in the competition, held March 12-13 in Mitchell.
In the culinary portion of the competition, teams of students demonstrated knife skills and then had just 60 minutes to prepare a three-course gourmet meal without the use of electricity. Many of the state’s premier chefs watched closely, scoring the teams on numerous factors including presentation, taste, sanitation and teamwork.
Teams also went head-to-head in a business management competition. They gave presentations on the steps they would need to take to start up a restaurant. In addition to presenting details about the concept to one set of judges, a second set of food-service professionals grilled the teams about their business plans.
The ProStart Invitational is a joint effort of the South Dakota Department of Education, the South Dakota Retailers Association and the South Dakota ProStart Advisory Committee.
Participating students were from the following high schools: Aberdeen Central A-TEC, Brookings, Huron, McIntosh, Madison Central, Mitchell CTE Academy, Mobridge-Pollock, Northeast Technical High School, Sioux Falls CTE Academy, Sturgis-Brown, and Wagner.
AWARD WINNERS
Culinary Division
First Place: Mitchell CTE
This team received the highest score in the culinary portion of the competition, and will go on to the National ProStart Invitational in Providence, Rhode Island April 27-29. Team members are Cody Hagemeyer, Kayla Kluth, Jerry Madsen, Madison Prince and Fae Thompson. Their instructor is Cindy Gerlach.
Second Place: McIntosh High School
Team members are Paige Clark, Winter Edigner, Hannah Nix and Michael Plush. The team competed under the direction of instructor LaKisha Jordan.
Third Place: Brookings High School
Team members are Yaritza Gonzalez, Stephen Heesch, Delaney Laframboise and Cassie Whitaker. The team competed under the direction of instructor Joline Dunbar.
Management Division
First Place: Brookings High School
This team received the highest score in the management portion of the competition, and will compete in the National ProStart Invitational in Providence, Rhode Island April 27-29. Team members are Abby Enevoldsen, Angela Lansang, Ainsley Powers and Andrew Rassmussen. The team competed under the direction of instructor Joline Dunbar.
Second Place: Mitchell CTE
Team members are Ben Kleis, Madison Prince, Fae Thompson and Lindsay Voeltz. The team competed under the direction of instructor Cindy Gerlach.
Third Place: Madison Central High School
Team members are Amanda Bensen, Jack Jankord, Bailie Johnson and Ben Lester. The team competed under the direction of instructor Sarah Perez.
Cake Decorating Winner: Huron High School
Team members are Emily Forrest and Stephanie Vandenhoek. The team competed under the direction of instructor Kathy Engst.
Bread Baking Winner: Aberdeen Central A-TEC High School
Team members are Landon Copley and Joseph Paye. The team competed under the direction of instructor Renae Borchard.
Knife Skills Award: Katherine Huett of Sturgis-Brown High School
This award is presented to the student who demonstrates the best overall technique during the knife skills portion of the competition.
President’s Award: Madison Prince of Mitchell CTE
The President’s Award is given by the Black Hills Chapter of Professional Chefs to an individual who exhibits leadership.
(SDRA)