Teams of students from across South Dakota put their culinary and hospitality management skills to the test at the 12th Annual South Dakota ProStart Invitational, held March 18 in Mitchell.
A team from Huron High School took first place in the cake decorating category. Team members Nayeli Pineda and Gabriela Estrada team competed under the direction of instructor Kathy Engst.
The ProStart Invitational is an intense, fast-paced event where students demonstrate skills in food preparation and safety, hospitality management, public speaking, and other valuable job skills. Teams compete for state titles in a culinary division and a business management division and the top teams earn a spot at the national competition in Washington, DC, May 8-10.
ProStart is a joint effort of the South Dakota Department of Education, the South Dakota Retailers Association and the South Dakota ProStart Advisory Committee.
In the culinary portion of the competition, teams of students demonstrate knife skills and then have just 60 minutes to prepare a three-course gourmet meal without using electricity. Many of the state’s premier chefs serve as judges, scoring teams on numerous factors including presentation, taste, sanitation and teamwork.
Teams also compete head-to-head in a business management competition. They present on the steps needed to start and operate a restaurant. In addition to presenting details about the concept to one set of judges, a second set of food-service professionals evaluate the teams’ business plans.
Aberdeen Central A-TEC, Brookings, Huron, Madison Central, Mitchell CTE Academy and Mobridge-Pollock participated in the event.
COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
Culinary Division
First Place: Brookings High School
Team members are Kylee Heston, Myranda Syhre, Yaritza Carmona Gonzalez, Stephen Heesch and Cassandra Whitaker. The team competed under the direction of instructors Joline Dunbar and Megan Jaquet.
Second Place: Mitchell CTE
Team members are Hallie Bitterman, Kris Berulson, Jadyn Jones and Monoromnea Pisy. The team competed under the direction of instructor Cindy Gerlach.
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 Washington, DC May 8-10. Team members are Abby Enevoldsen, Angela Lansang and Alexis Rodriquez. The team competed under the direction of instructors Joline Dunbar and Megan Jaquet.
Second Place: Madison High School
Team members are Nathan Meyer, Sahara VanTassel, Ethan Brown and Brandt Blessington. The team competed under the direction of instructor Sarah Jongeling.
Knife Skills Award: Juan Murillo Gonzalez of Aberdeen Central A-TEC
This award is presented to the student who demonstrates the best overall technique during the knife skills portion of the competition.
President’s Award: Juan Murillo Gonzalez of Aberdeen Central A-TEC
The President’s Award is given by the Black Hills Chapter of Professional Chefs to an individual who exhibits leadership.