Success at Nationals!
After earning top honors at the state level, Apollo High School (Management Team) and Kingman High School (Culinary Team) traveled to Baltimore, Maryland to represent Arizona at the 2025 National ProStart Invitational — the country’s premier high school competition for future culinary and restaurant management professionals.
We’re thrilled to share that Arizona’s Management Team placed 16th out of 48 states, a remarkable achievement on a national stage. While the Culinary Team placed 48th, their hard work, dedication, and poise throughout the competition deserve recognition and applause.
The National ProStart Invitational, hosted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, is the capstone event of the ProStart program — a nationwide, two-year curriculum that equips high school students with real-world culinary arts and restaurant management experience. Through hands-on learning and mentorship from industry professionals, ProStart fosters the next generation of foodservice leaders.
Both teams represented Arizona with heart, professionalism, and pride. We congratulate the students, instructors, and mentors from Apollo and Kingman High Schools for their achievements and their continued contributions to the future of our industry. We are incredibly proud of these students and their dedicated teachers for representing Arizona on the national stage.
The Road to Nationals!
The Arizona State ProStart Invitational, brought to you by Habit Burger, showcases the brightest high school talents from across the state through culinary arts and restaurant management competitions. Among the participating schools, Apollo High School, Flagstaff High School, Kingman High School, and St. Johns High School stood out with their remarkable presentations and culinary skills. These institutions are part of the expansive ProStart program, which engages over 165 thousand students across more than 1,800 schools in the United States, including territories like Guam and Washington, D.C., in a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare them for successful careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
Kingman High School emerged victorious in the culinary category, while Apollo High School was ranked #1 in restaurant management. The students from these winning teams were awarded a package of $10,000 in institutional scholarships, a $100 Amazon Gift Card, and an opportunity to compete at the National ProStart Invitational. This year’s national competition is scheduled to take place from May 2-4, 2025, in Baltimore, MD, with high schools from all 50 states plus U.S. territories expected to participate, showcasing the wide-reaching influence and prestige of the ProStart program.
ProStart’s blend of classroom learning and real-world experience under the mentorship of industry professionals offers students unparalleled exposure to the culinary and management aspects of the restaurant business. The program not only equips students with essential skills but also connects them with career opportunities within the industry, fostering the next generation of culinary and restaurant management leaders. As these students progress, their achievements, such as those witnessed in the ProStart competition, underscore the program’s vital role in developing the skill sets and professionalism required to excel in the dynamic and ever-evolving restaurant and foodservice industry.
