Florida students win $1.6 million in scholarships from hospitality competition
ORLANDO Fla. (BLOOM) – More than 400 Florida high school students showcased their culinary and hospitality talents last weekend at the 24th annual ProStart Culinary Team Competition and the Hospitality & Tourism Management (HTM) Competition. The events, hosted by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF), awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships to students pursuing careers in the hospitality industry.
Students from more than 40 high schools competed in various challenges, including culinary arts, restaurant management, edible centerpiece design, and the waiter's relay. Top-performing teams earned scholarships from institutions such as the Culinary Institute of America, Florida International University, Keiser University, and the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Culinary winners also received full scholarships to Hillsborough Culinary Academies at Erwin Technical College.
'We are incredibly proud of the talent and dedication shown by these students,' said Laura Rumer, director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. 'These competitions highlight their skills and passion for the industry. It's inspiring to see so many receive scholarships and recognition for their hard work.'
The first-place teams in both the culinary and management categories will advance to represent Florida at the national ProStart Invitational in Washington, D.C., this May.
Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, emphasized the significance of investing in the next generation of hospitality leaders. 'Hospitality is at the heart of Florida's economy, and these students are its future,' Dover said. 'We are thrilled to support their growth through programs like ProStart and HTM, which provide them with the skills and opportunities needed to succeed.'
Martin County High School (Stuart)
Strawberry Crest High School (Dover)
Wekiva High School (Apopka)
(Tie) South Lake High School (Groveland) & Fort Pierce Central High School (Fort Pierce)
(Tie) George Jenkins High School (Lakeland) & Lyman High School (Longwood)
Wekiva High School (Apopka)
Strawberry Crest High School (Dover)
Martin County High School (Stuart)
Bryar Stoney, Martin County High School
Marie Townsel, Strawberry Crest High School
Steven Twiss, George Jenkins High School
Martin County High School (Stuart)
Fort Pierce Central High School (Fort Pierce)
South Lake High School (Groveland)
The ProStart program is a national initiative that prepares nearly 150,000 high school students annually for careers in culinary arts and restaurant management. Florida's program is the largest in the country, with approximately 30,000 students enrolled each year.
The HTM competition, now in its 21st year, featured categories including hotel operations, hospitality project management, and a knowledge bowl. Florida is the only state that hosts a statewide HTM contest.
Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland)
Colonial High School (Orlando)
Osceola High School (Kissimmee)
Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland)
Olympia High School (Orlando)
Colonial High School (Orlando)
Colonial High School (Orlando)
Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland)
Robert Morgan Educational Center (Miami)
'These students have demonstrated an incredible depth of knowledge and leadership,' said Rumer. 'Their passion for the industry gives us great confidence in the future of Florida's hospitality sector.'
The competitions were made possible through support from sponsors including Keiser University, Universal Orlando, Disney Culinary, Ecolab, and Florida Atlantic University.
For more information on ProStart, HTM, or the FRLA Educational Foundation, visit www.FRLA.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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