Bend High School Wins First Place at National ProStart Student Invitational, Oregon Still Reigns Supreme

May 4, 2009 – Wilsonville, OR

For the fourth time in five years, the Bend High School Lava Bears brought home a national championship for Oregon, taking first place in the management competition at the National ProStart Student Invitational held April 23-27, 2009 in San Diego, CA. In the culinary competition South Salem High School placed sixth. Oregon Restaurant Association rewarded Bend and South Salem High School with an all-expenses paid trip to Nationals for winning the Oregon ProStart High School State Championships, developed and conducted by the Oregon Restaurant Association.

The Bend management team placed first in the nation at their first appearance at the National ProStart Invitational in 2005 and again in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The team placed third in 2006. High school students Katelynn Cockrum, Jackie Baird, Mimi Seeley and Casey Anderson made up the championship team lead by ProStart teacher of the year Louise Markland. "We're thrilled with the success of the Bend high school management teams the past five years," said Steve McCoid, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant Association. "The ongoing excellence of the program indicates the tremendous job that Louise Markland does with her students. Winning once is terrific, winning four times is unprecedented and, as the students say, totally awesome!"

South Salem High School placed 12th in 2008 and now sixth in 2009. 2009 ProStart Student of the Year David Champion, and team members Mandi Fraley, Yuki Oishi, Amanda Nill and Joshua Meyer gave it their all as the Food Network taped their performance during competition. Both the South Salem and the Bend teams won the state competition and represented Oregon the last two years in a row at the National ProStart Student Invitational.

"Coming to Nationals as returning champions, there was a lot of added pressure and everyone was watching our every move," said Misty Damico, ProStart and Events Manager for the Oregon Restaurant Association. "However, the amount of professionalism and poise from our Oregon students was unparalleled." The Invitational, much like the Oregon state championships, is composed of two competitions, culinary and management. Students competing in the culinary challenge have one hour to prepare a three-course meal while being observed by industry judges. For the management challenge, each team is given a case study and competes in a quiz bowl, a question and answer session where competitors dazzle judges with their knowledge of food preparation and the hospitality industry. Winners of each competition receive prizes, thousands of dollars in educational scholarships, and gold, silver and bronze medals.

The ProStart Program is a two-year curriculum designed to teach students the management skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Students interested in entering the hospitality industry are able to gain critical knowledge by participating in internships mentored by experienced industry members. To learn more about the ProStart Hospitality School-to-Career program, please visit www.ora.org/education/ProStart or contact Misty Damico, Oregon Restaurant Association ProStart Manager at 503-682-4422 or misty@ora.org.