Virginia ProStart

What an amazing week! The Culinary team from Colonial Heights Public Schools and the Management team from Kempsville High School knocked it out of the park at ! Thanks to the entire National ProStart Program team for highlighting the hard work and talent of the future of our industry.

We are excited to announce that Chef Lee DeMatteo from the Spotsylvania Career and Tech Center has been awarded the 2023 Virginia ProStart Program Educator of Excellence Award.

https://www.vrlta.org/uploads/1/3/2/1/132142159/lee_dematteo_educator_of_the_year.docx.pdf

ICYMI: There are just a couple weeks left to get your application in for the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association/Ford's Fish Shack scholarship. Open to students from Loudoun County Public Schools or George Mason University who plan to study in the culinary or hospitality industry. Applications must be postmarked by May 1st! https://www.vrlta.org/scholarships.html

The ProStart Program students from Pulaski County High School came for their annual culinary tour of Richmond. Today’s stops included 1115 Mobile Kitchen, Hatch Richmond, Sub Rosa Bakery, Quirk Hotel Richmond, Tarrant's Downtown and Bar Solita. Thanks to all of our hosts for giving the students such a memorable day!

In another first, today we hosted our first ever joint ProStart Program Teacher Symposium/Student Boot Camp at Virginia Western Community College. The students created their own pizza while teachers created their own pasta. Afterwards we got a FOH/BOH tour of The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

Congratulations to Spotsy Ctc Culinary ProStart Program Team for competing in the 2023 Virginia Prostart Competition held at Old Dominion University. This team did an amazing job and we are so proud of their accomplishments, hard work and dedication to the Spotsylvania Career and Tech Center Culinary Program.
Spotsylvania County Public Schools

Today we hosted our first ever ProStart Program Boot Camp at Southwest Virginia Community College. Students from Buchanan County Public Schools and Grayson County Public Schools Virgina worked on salsa fresca, chicken mole and churros. Thanks to Chef Stephen Gilbert for hosting!

There is a month left to apply for the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association/Retro Hospitality scholarship. This scholarship is open to students in Chesterfield County Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond Public Schools or Reynolds Community College studying in the culinary or hospitality industry. https://www.vrlta.org/scholarships.html

Check out this video highlighting this year's Virginia ProStart Program Invitational! Congratulations to all of our winning teams and a special thank you to our incredible hosts - Aramark/Monarch Dining and Old Dominion University - for throwing one heck of an event. Thank you to all who made the day so special: from the students to their teachers and parents, as well as the volunteers and vendors who supported them along the way. Hope to see you at !

Virginia ProStart Invitational 2023 Here are the highlights from VPSI 2023!Culinary Competition Winners:1st Place: Colonial Heights Technical Center2nd Place: Northern Neck Technical Center3rd ...