ProStart Invitational

2023 Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational | State College – March 1, 2023

ProStart students from across Pennsylvania are invited annually to compete in the Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational, a one-day event which allows students to showcase their skills and talents in restaurant management and culinary arts. This is our state’s qualifier for the National ProStart Invitational which takes place this year in Washington DC from May 2-4, 2023.

Congratulations 2023 PA ProStart Invitational Medalists:

Culinary Competition

1st – Milton Hershey School

2nd – A.W. Beattie Career Center (PM team)

3rd – Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

Management Competition

1st – Milton Hershey School

2nd – West Side Career and Technology Center

3rd – Octorara High School

Cake Decorating Competition

1st – Monroe Career & Technical Institute (MCTI)

2nd – Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center

3rd – State College Area High School

#PAPSI23 Photo Gallery

How does the competition work?

The Pennsylvania ProStart Invitational (PAPSI) is composed of three distinct competitions—management, culinary, and *NEW for 2023*, cake decorating! Students must impress judges from leading industry businesses, colleges, and universities with skills they’ve developed through ProStart.

Management

Management teams develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and pitch their idea to a panel of industry judges. Judges evaluate teams’ critical thinking skills and ability to react to management challenges with a Q&A session.

Culinary

The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. Students are evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety and sanitation.

Cake Decorating

*NEW for 2023*: Cake decorating teams (1-2 students) will have 60 minutes to decorate a cake, pre-baked by the team offsite. Teams will be judged on their theme, icing, decorating, level of difficulty, consistency, safety/sanitation, and documentation.

Who can participate?

All high school students, currently enrolled in a confirmed ProStart program recognized by the NRAEF, who have been certified to represent their school or region at the Pennsylvania State competition are eligible to compete.

Culinary & Management Competition Rules

Baking Competition Rules

Student Waiver

Registration:

Schools must register their teams using the digital form below by December 16, 2022.

Industry members – register as a competition judge or exhibitor using the forms below.

Team Registration

Judge Registration

Exhibitor Registration

Sponsorship Opportunities

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