2020 ProStart Invitational
is Postponed until Further Notice
Location
Hotel RL Olympia
2300 Evergreen Park Dr SW
Olympia, WA 98502
Room rates: $120/night
Reserve by Feb. 28, 2020
Date
Mar. 13-14, 2020
Mar. 13: Check-in
Mar. 14: Competition & dinner
Free to attend!
Event attendance: Free
Exhibit table at career fair: Free
Awards Dinner: $25 each Purchase now
Event Details
Agenda
Saturday March 14, 2020
8:00 am - 8:30 am Student Orientation
9:15 am - 3:00 pm Culinary Heats
10:30 am - 2:40 pm Management Heats
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Prep for Awards Dinner
5:30 pm Awards Dinner
Live Event
We will be livestreaming the competition on our Facebook page. Like us to be notified when we begin streaming.
Livestream Schedule
More details coming soon
At work where you can't watch or have sound? We'll also be tweeting and posting on Instagram/Facebook the day of the event. Follow our social media handles to experience the event!
Twitter: @WAhospitality
Instagram: @wahospitality
Competing Teams
Management Teams
First Group 10:30 am - 12:35 pm
- Bonney Lake High School, Bonney Lake
- Rogers High School, Spokane
Second Group 1:00 pm - 2:40 pm
- Ferris High School, Spokane
- Northwest Career & Technical Academy, Mt. Vernon
Culinary Teams
9:15 am - Northwest Career & Technical Academy, Mt. Vernon
9:35 am - Ferris High School, Spokane
9:55 am - Newport High School, Bellevue
10:15 am - Mount Si High School, Snoqualmie
10:35 am - Mt. Spokane High School, Spokane
10:55 am - Walla Walla High School, Walla Walla
11:35 am - Newport High School, Bellevue
11:55 am - Puyallup High School, Puyallup
12:15 pm - North Central High School, Spokane
12:35 pm - Bonney Lake High School, Bonney Lake
Awards Dinner
Winners of the Invitational for each category are announced during this time. All teams, mentors, teachers and judges will be present. First place winners will go on to compete in Washington, D.C. at the National ProStart Invitational.
We'll also announce 2020 winners for Student of the Year, Mentor of the Year, and Educator of the Year.
Awards Dinner tickets are available for purchase through our event registration form.
More details to follow.
Career Fair
The Invitational will have a career fair going on at the same time as the competition. Exhibitors will consist of colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship programs with hospitality training as well as hospitality businesses who hire and train students.
There is no cost to exhibit at the career fair. Each exhibitor will be allotted chairs and one table.
To register, please see our event registration form.
What is the ProStart Invitational?
ProStart student teams from across the state demonstrate their culinary and management skills. Winning teams earn scholarships, honors and the opportunity to compete against the very best teams from other states at the National ProStart Invitational.
How does the competition work?
Management
Management teams develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. Their problem solving skills are tested as they quickly solve challenges faced by managers daily.
Each presentation is broken down into 5 separate categories:
- Concept
- Layout & Staffing
- Menu & Costing
- Marketing
- Critical Thinking
After all 5 categories are presented by the team, they will receive critiques from prominent industry professionals to help them learn and grow. Winners are announced later that night at the ProSelect Invitational Awards Dinner.
Culinary
The culinary competition highlights each team's creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal (appetizer, entree & dessert) in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity.
Students are evaluated on:
- Taste of Food
- Food Presentation
- Degree of Difficulty/Creativity
- Cooking and Knife Skills
- Teamwork/Team Presentation/Organization
- Menu & Recipe Presentation
- Sanitation
- Safety
After the meal is prepared, students receive 3 separate critiques from industry chefs based on:
- Skills & Organization
- Taste
- Recipe & Menu
