February 06, 2009
Contact: Megan Meyer (312) 715-6741, Jessica Wion (312) 715-5397

(Washington, D.C.) The National Restaurant Association announced today that Overland Park, Kan. will be the site of the 2010 and 2011 National ProStart Invitationals. Held annually in April, this rigorous competition brings together teams of ProStart® high school state champions from around the country to compete for the national title, as well as scholarships to help fund their college education.

“Overland Park is an ideal selection for the next National ProStart Invitational host city – it’s a family-friendly and affordable city with expansive competition space and strong support from the state restaurant association. We’ve been on the East or West coasts the last few years, and we’re excited to bring this competition to America’s heartland,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO, National Restaurant Association. “We’re confident that partnering with the Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association will help us continue the tradition of hosting a world-class competition to showcase the talents of these future leaders of the restaurant and foodservice industry.”

The National ProStart Invitational operates on a biannual cycle, returning to a host city for two consecutive years. The 9th annual competition will be held April 30-May 2, 2010 at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel and the Overland Park Convention Center. The site was chosen for the close proximity of the hotel and convention center, modern accommodations, first-rate staff and central location. Overland Park will play host to the top teams from participating states who will compete in two competitions: culinary and management. At the event, industry and academic leaders interact with the students, helping fuel their passion for the industry and the opportunities available within it. Annually, $1.3 million in scholarships are awarded to the top teams in both the culinary and management competitions.

“We’re proud of the strong support the restaurant and foodservice industry in Kansas offers to the 1,000 students enrolled in our state’s ProStart schools, and we’re excited to extend that support by partnering to host the National ProStart Invitational,” said Don Sayler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kansas Restaurant & Hospitality Association. “The impact of the program in Kansas mirrors the program’s impact nationwide – helping to build a pipeline of qualified candidates to fill the estimated 1.8 million positions the national industry will create over the next decade.”

Teams participating in the culinary competition at the National ProStart Invitational will demonstrate their creative abilities through the preparation of a meal consisting of a starter, entrée and dessert in 60 minutes. The management competition will highlight a team’s knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a business proposal defining a new restaurant concept, its menu and its marketing launch. The National ProStart Invitational is also a learning opportunity for the students, as they meet with judges for valuable feedback on the culinary and management events. The 2009 National ProStart Invitational will be held April 24-26, 2009 in San Diego, Calif. For more information on the National ProStart Invitational, please visit www.prostart.restaurant.org/about/invitational.aspx.

Nationwide, approximately 78,000 students in 47 states, territories and districts are served by ProStart, a two-year curriculum that blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. The career-building program was developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and is managed nationally by National Restaurant Association Solutions in conjunction with state restaurant associations. For more information on the ProStart program and National ProStart Invitational, please visit www.prostart.restaurant.org.

The Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association, founded in 1929, is the leading business association for restaurants, hotels, motels, country clubs, private clubs and allied business in Kansas. Along with the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association Education Foundation, the association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry of hospitality in Kansas.