Wekiva High wins multiple awards in hospitality competition

Wekiva High School won three awards at the statewide annual Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) Hospitality & Tourism Management Program (HTM) Competition and ProStart Culinary Team Competitions. The event was held from February 28 – March 2 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel. 400 Florida high school students from more than 50 schools competed.

Wekiva placed third overall in the competition, second in the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management Competition, and fifth in the Waiters Relay Competition.

This year marked the 23rd year for the ProStart competition and the 20th year for the HTM event; Florida is the only state to host a statewide competition for the HTM program. Executive and Board Leadership from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) attended the competition.

Throughout the weekend, ProStart students competed in categories including Culinary, Management, Edible Centerpiece, and Waiters Relay. At the Salute to Excellence Award ceremony, students were awarded for their respective competition categories. Students received scholarships from the FRLAEF, as well as Culinary Institute of America, Culinary Institute of Virginia, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Johnson & Wales University, Keiser University, Nichollas State University, and UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality. Winners will advance to the national ProStart Invitational which is hosted by the National Restaurant Association. HTM students competed in categories including Hotel Operations, Hospitality Project, and the Knowledge Bowl and were also awarded scholarships from the FRLA Educational Foundation. 

These events would not be possible without the support of our Global Sponsors which are Keiser University, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality and Universal Orlando. Event sponsors include Disney Culinary, Ecolab, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University.

"This year's ProStart and HTM competitions showcased the dedication and skill of our exceptional hospitality students," said Laura Rumer, Director of the FRLA Educational Foundation. "It was inspiring to witness the spirited competition, collaborative teamwork, and enthusiastic school pride demonstrated by these students and their instructors. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved from across the hospitality industry, including our esteemed judges and devoted volunteers. We are excited for the promising futures of these outstanding students and look forward to our winners representing Florida at the national competition this spring in Washington, D.C.”

"As the top state for tourism and hospitality, Florida proudly maintains its forefront position in high school hospitality education," said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). "With the largest ProStart program nationwide and the unique distinction of being the only state to host a statewide HTM contest, we remain committed to nurturing the next generation of industry leaders. These competitions serve as vital investments in our students, who embody the future of this dynamic field. Witnessing their dedication and talent in action is truly exhilarating. Congratulations to these exceptional young individuals and to their devoted instructors, whose unwavering dedication shapes the path to success."

23rd ANNUAL FLORIDA PROSTART COMPETITION WINNERS:

OVERALL WINNERS

1st  Place         Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Instructor Paul Bonanno

2nd Place         Martin County High School (Stuart): Instructor Shaun Southwick
3rd TIE               Wekiva High School (Apopka): Instructor Christopher Bates
3rd TIE          St. Lucie West Centennial High School (Port St. Lucie): Instructor    Christina Gedke-Balaschak

4th TIE             Lyman High School (Longwood): Instructor Dane Brevoort

4th  TIE            Steinbrenner High School (Lutz): Instructor Cheryl White

5th  Place         South Lake High School (Groveland): Instructor John Thunberg

KEISER UNIVERSITY CULINARY COMPETITION

1st Place         Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Andrew Raab, Raegan Monroe, Rubicel Lopez, Jadira Ipanaque, Taylor Carlisle, Instructor Paul Bonanno

2nd Place        St. Lucie West Centennial High School (Port St. Lucie): Isaac Vasconcelos, Nathan Korb, Kaitlyn Owens, Instructor Christina Gedke-Balaschak

3rd Place         Martin County High School (Stuart): Michael De Cesare, Kalla Caves, Zachary Walker, Sarah Duda, Belle Quevedo, Instructor Shaun Southwick

4th Place         JP Taravella High School (Coral Springs): K’xada Herbert, Lauren Sandell, Yojeved Navarro, Savanna Hurlbert, Austin Thompson, Instructor Scott Goodman

5th Place         Olympia High School (Orlando): Luke Digiammarino, Sofia Galbis, Emma Pohlhammer, Katherine Garcia, Instructor Michael Lit

UCF ROSEN COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT COMPETITION

1st Place         Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Katya King, Caleigh Ross, Sienna Smith, Faye Lee, Juliana Kelly, Instructor Paul Bonanno

2nd Place        Wekiva High School (Apopka): America Castillo, Mia Del Valle, Isaac Aristrud, Emma Gonzelez-Miguel, Ema Thomas, Instructor Christopher Bates

3rd Place         Martin County High School (Stuart) Victoria Garcia, Rosemary Hernandez, Guadalupe Torres-Escobar, Sienna Hartley, Jennifer Lopez, Instructor Shaun Southwick

4th Place          Coral Springs High School (Coral Springs): Kayla Connell, Brady Porter, Cole Clapp, David Puello, Eric Wilson, Instructor Aruna Lien

5th Place           Osceola Fundamental High School (Seminole): Mackenzie Dunn, Kayla Dudinsky, Jessica Jamieson, Lily Schneidewind, Instructor Chris Long

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO EDIBLE CENTERPIECE COMPETITION

1st Place          Ava Caldwell, Lyman High School, Longwood (Instructor Dane Brevoort)

2nd Place         Bryar Stoney, Martin County High School, Stuart (Instructor Shaun Southwick)

3rd Place          Nicholas Leonardi, Fort Pierce Central High School, Fort Pierce (Instructor Jesse Strell)

4th Place          Daisy Silva-Bautista, Strawberry Crest High School, Dover (Instructor Paul Bonanno)

5th Place          Abigail Roth, St. Lucie West Centennial High School, Port St. Lucie (Instructor Christina Gedke-Balaschak

WAITERS RELAY COMPETITION

1st Place           Steinbrenner High School (Lutz): Evan Cannon, Cameron DeLeon, Fiona Wang, Instructors Cheryl White

 2nd Place          South Lake High School (Groveland): Ryder Eckert, Isabel Acensio, Evan Greblick, Instructor John Thunberg

3rd Place          Strawberry Crest High School (Dover): Marie Townsel, Katie Lynn Ben Said, Lizbeth Lopez-Bautista, Instructor Paul Bonanno

4th Place           Winter Springs High School (Winter Springs): Davon Jacobsen, Xionel Bembry, Sydney Hanson, Instructor Adam Efland

5th Place           Wekiva High School (Apopka): Bertuni Cleonard, Armaan Welch, Jubal Castillo, Instructor Christopher Bates

ProStart is a nationwide high school career program educating nearly 150,000 students in culinary arts and restaurant management skills. Florida’s ProStart program is the largest in the nation with approximately 30,000 students enrolled annually. ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities and sets a high standard of excellence for the industry’s next generation of leaders. Yearly, students compete on state and nation-wide levels to showcase skills learnt in their classroom kitchens.

20th ANNUAL HTM COMPETITION WINNERS:

OVERALL WINNERS

1st  Place         Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland): Instructor Mitchell Albert

2nd Place         Olympia High School (Orlando): Instructor Kristina Bryant

3rd  Place         Robert Morgan Educational Center (Miami): Instructor Alina Hughes

HOTEL OPERATIONS COMPETITION

1st Place         Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland): Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro, Instructor Mitchell Albert

 2nd Place       Seminole Virtual High School (Lake Mary): Lindsey Weber, Emiaj Jaime, Zachary Griffin, Alexavier Sanders, Instructor Kimberly Pintok

3rd Place         Gainesville High School (Gainesville): Emily Yanik, Sam Myers, Brittney Davis, Instructor Dawn Bekaert

HOSPITALITY PROJECT COMPETITION

1st Place          Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland): Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro; Instructor Mitchell Albert

 2nd Place        Olympia High School (Orlando): Isabel Miller, Aubrey Heaton, Mitley Seide,                    Ella Tran, Instructor Kristina Bryant

 3rd Place         Seminole Virtual High School (Lake Mary): Lindsey Weber, Emiaj Jaime, Zachary Griffin, Alexavier Sanders, Instructor Kimberly Pintok

KNOWLEDGE BOWL COMPETITION

1st Place         Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland): Blake Backman, Macy Meis, Saya Greiner, Maddison Schapiro, Instructor Mitchell Albert

 2nd Place       Gainesville High School (Gainesville): Emily Yanik, Sam Myers, Brittney Davis, Instructor Dawn Bekaert

3rd Place         Robert Morgan Educational Center (Miami): Destinee Rodger, Julia Felipe-Careaga,  Peyton McQueen, Samyra White; Instructor Alina Hughes

The Hospitality & Tourism Management program (HTM) is a high school curriculum that introduces 2,000 Florida students to the hospitality and tourism industry each year. HTM presents the industry on a global scale with a large focus on diversity. Most importantly, this curriculum is industry-driven as evidenced by the fact that more than 60 industry leaders served as subject matter experts, ensuring that today’s program matches the needs of hospitality employers across the world. Each year, Florida's HTM students compete at the state level to showcase the skills they have learned in the classroom.

For more information about ProStart, HTM, or FRLA’s Educational Foundation, visit our webpage or contact Director Laura Rumer at LRumer@frla.org.

About the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks, and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s $111.7 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.3 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of its membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.