Release Date: 5/6/2009 Contact: Diana L. Spencer, 410.887.4243

Carver Center students, teacher honored at 8th Annual National ProStart Invitational

Teacher one of two in nation to win prestigious award, student team places fourth in culinary management

TOWSON, MD. (May 6, 2009) - A culinary arts teacher and a team of five students from the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology were honored at the 8th Annual National ProStart Invitational held April 24-26 in San Diego, California.

Culinary arts teacher Bette Mullins, the 2009 ProStart Teacher of the Year for Maryland, was selected from among the nation's top ProStart educators to receive one of two 2009 James H. Maynard Excellence in Education Awards. This $5,000 award was presented by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation in conjunction with Golden Corral Corp. Teacher Excellence Award winners have demonstrated excellence in instruction and an unwavering commitment to providing first-class restaurant and food service education.

Led by Mullins, the Carver team placed fourth in the culinary management portion of the National ProStart Invitational. The Carver team is comprised of seniors Brina Furman of Hunt Valley, Tara Lewis of Perry Hall, Brenna Hoffman of Reisterstown, and Rachel Sherman of Owings Mills, as well as junior Tom Burch of Towson.

"These are significant honors, and we are proud of Bette Mullins and her students," said Dr. Joe A. Hairston, Superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools. "To succeed in the culinary field requires business acumen and scientific knowledge as well as artistry. These students have demonstrated the breadth of their skills and brought positive attention to the quality of culinary arts instruction in Baltimore County Public Schools."

Nationwide, 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 food service industry. When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of skills, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they earn the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement that signifies they are well qualified to enter the industry workforce. The career-building program is managed nationally by a subsidiary of the National Restaurant Association in conjunction with state restaurant associations.

At the 2009 National ProStart Invitational, 275 students representing 39 states, territories, and districts vied for top honors in culinary and management categories. More than 4,000 students competed at the state level to earn the chance to advance to the national finals.

"This preeminent high school competition brings together the future leaders of our industry with current industry and academic leaders," said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. "The ProStart students who earn their way to the national competition strive to impress the potential future employers who act as judges and spectators, in addition to competing for top honors and scholarships. The competition highlights the culinary and management skills the students have mastered - skills that are critical for success in the restaurant and food service industry."

Teams, like Carver's, that participate in the management category demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry by completing two events. In the Case Study, students are tested on their communication skills and their ability to apply their knowledge of the restaurant and food service industry to practical situations. The second portion of the competition, the Quiz Bowl, is a question and answer "Jeopardy" style event.

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