Sauk Rapids Rice High School Culinary Team Finishes Second in National Competition

(KNSI) — A restaurant management team from Sauk Rapids-Rice High School took second place, competing against other schools from across the country in a secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts.

The 2022 National ProStart Invitational hosted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation awards more than $200,000 in scholarship funds to winning teams to support their future careers.

Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, which won the 2022 Minnesota ProStart State Invitational in St. Paul, came in second to Ben Barber Innovation Academy in the restaurant management competition.

According to the National Restaurant Association, the culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. Students are evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety, and sanitation.

“These high school students are the best-of-the-best, representing the industry’s talent of tomorrow, and it was a pleasure to give them this platform to showcase their incredible skills on a national stage and win scholarships to support their career goals. We congratulate each participant and look forward to all that they will go on to achieve,” says Rob Gifford, President of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

With sponsors including Ecolab, Nestlé Professional, The Coca-Cola Company, and Golden Corral, the three-day national event kicked off on Friday, May 6th, in Washington, D.C., and saw over 1,000 attendees, including almost 400 ProStart participants and 68 judges.

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