Commitment to ProStart: John has spearheaded his school's management team to two consecutive state ProStart Student Invitational championships. He is described as a student who "has an incredible amount of energy and a constant supply of ideas". One of these ideas was coordinating a dinner to help raise money for the ProStart program, which was a huge success!

Work Experience: John has been working for Marie Callendars and already has been able to work his way around the restaurant, experiencing all areas of the operation. John realizes the value of applying classroom learning to on-the-job training and plans to continue working for Marie Callendars throughout his college career.

Future Plans: John plans to attend a local community college for two years and then move on to Cal Poly in Pomona, CA as a restaurant management student.

Commitment to ProStart: Fany has become somewhat of a local celebrity within her school and town. She is a true voice for the ProStart program, doing radio interviews and talking with other peers about the benefits of the program. She has excelled in the classroom and is a role model for other peers.

Future Plans: Fany plans to continue her education in culinary arts and dreams of opening her own pastry shop some day.

Commitment to ProStart: Nicole has taken every culinary arts class that has been available at her school, which greatly prepared her for winning the 2006 National ProStart Student Invitational. Other accolades include being a member of the first place Kohler Gingerbread festival team for the past three years and overall festival winner for two years. Nicole has generously given any prize money won over the years to her school's Culinary Arts Department to use for team competition expenses.

Work Experience: Nicole has come into the school to work as many as 40 Saturday's and Sundays as well as many other evenings to help with catering or special school events. Outside of school she has worked just about every station at Culver's including pantry and garde manger, cooking and baking and waiting tables. Nicole has also been recruited to make sheet cakes serving 150 people for a variety of events.

Future Plans: Nicole is on track to earn her National ProStart Certificate of Achievement and has been accepted into Kendall College's Baking and Pastry program where she plans to master the skills to become a top pastry chef.

Commitment to ProStart: Felipe is working hard towards earning his National ProStart Certificate of Achievement all while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.0. He is active in all class activities and is a mentor to other students. Outside of his culinary interests he is star of his football and wrestling teams as well as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

Future Plans: Felipe plans on attending a 4-year culinary school.

Commitment to ProStart: The ProStart program has introduced Jasmine to many opportunities within the foodservice industry. Most of all , she has learned that dedication, teamwork, culinary knowledge and self-confidence are all crucial to becoming a success. Jasmine is a member of the 2005 New York State ProStart Management team.

Work Experience: Jasmine has worked with various organizations gaining her internship experience within the program. Through these internships, she has had many opportunities to contribute to an array of community projects. Jasmine has currently been working for the past six months at Gambles, a bakery in Queensboro, New York.

Future Plans: Jasmine hopes to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University or the Culinary Institute of America. She also plans to take management classes in order to prepare herself for an ownership/management role within the restaurant industry.

Commitment to ProStart: Jasmine's teacher describes her as a person that has the "passion, dexterity and fortitude needed to work the long, hard hours required by the industry." She has a real creative knack with breads, pastries and cakes as well as a success with knife skills, measurement, tablesettings, service, choosing recipes, making menus and using a variety of cooking techniques. ProStart has motivated Jasmine to push herself to succeed in something…and that's just what she does, COOK!

Work Experience: Jasmine began working in the industry at Roundtable Pizza and then worked back of the house at MGM Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Currently she is an assistant in the pastry department of the Mirage Hotel & Casino.

Future Plans: Jasmine would like to be a pastry chef after high school graduation.

Commitment to ProStart: Rachel began the ProStart program as a young lady who was unsure of herself and had little direction in her life. She now has a passion for the culinary industry and is a motivated and determined student who sees herself beyond the confines of a small rural community. She allows herself to be shaped and molded by her positive experiences in the ProStart program. She has discovered the fact that a career as a chef is possible and that such a career is possible for her.

Work Experience: Rachel has gained valuable work experience by working in Yoncalla High School's school based enterprise, 5th Street Catering.

Future Plans: Rachel hopes to obtain scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education at Johnson & Wales University. She aspires to be a chef.

Commitment to ProStart: Michelle is a star in both her culinary classes and general education classes. She's ranked 14th in her graduating class and has been in honors classes throughout her high school career. During her junior year, she participated in every activity and special event that was offered by the Illinois Restaurant Association's Educational Foundation.

Work Experience: Michelle's ProStart learnings made her a top candidate when Hyatt Regency Chicago was looking for summer interns. Michelle hit a turning point when she discovered a passion for the industry and quickly became a star intern. This culminated in her being offered one of only four paid positions for the school year.