ProStart

ProStart…the real smart start to your career!

Nebraska ProStart program helps high school students get a taste for success in an industry hungry for talent. Nebraska ProStart has 50+ high schools with more than 700 students are enrolled. In addition, nearly 125 students have taken part in a 400-hour internship program. Ninety percent of our graduated ProStart students either continue their education or start jobs in the hospitality industry.

Nationally, foodservice is one of the fastest growing industries in the economy.
Nebraska’s foodservice employs over 54,000 people.
Foodservice is the state’s largest employer.
1,100 foodservice jobs are available on a daily basis.

ProStart is a two year program for high school juniors and seniors. Students delve into everything from management skills, the preparation of soups and sauces to sanitation, accounting, inventory control and customer service.

These classes are taught in the high school classroom and are reinforced through paid internships in local restaurants.

Mentors are seasoned restaurant employees who take a special interest in a young person and help them reach established goals.

ProStart benefits students in a number of ways.

Paid work experience.
Marketable skills.
Opportunities to receive higher paying jobs.
Funding for a college education.
Educates students about food service careers, and post secondary education options.
A portfolio of skills that can lead to more challenging and higher paying careers.
An industry-recognized certificate from the National Restaurant Association.
Self-confidence, respect, and a sense of responsibility.

Be sure to like Our Nebraska ProStart Facebook page for Event Updates & other News!

Are you a member of the NRA? BECOME A SPONSOR!

We invite you to help with the Nebraska ProStart Student Competition. The Nebraska ProStart® Student Competition, presented by the Nebraska Restaurant Association Hospitaltiy Education Foundation, attracts top high school students from around the state that are enrolled in the ProStart® restaurant and food service management program. These students have proven their skills and commitment to the industry through vigorous coursework and on-the job training. Teams of students representing their high school ProStart® program compete in individual and team competitions. The overall winning team will represent Nebraska at the National ProStart® Student Invitational.

ProStartCulinaryphoto The mission of the Nebraska ProStart® Student Competition is to:

Celebrate the academic achievements of ProStart® students and to provide them with the opportunity to demonstrate a mastery of skills achieved through working with industry.
Increase awareness about careers in the restaurant and Food Service industry.
Promote the difference the industry is making in education, and particularly in the lives of students.
Provide the restaurant and foodservice industry and post-secondary education partners with a forum to present to and recruit ProStart students.

By helping with this competition you are showing your support for the Nebraska ProStart Program. This is a great opportunity for you to meet and encourage future chef and managers.

As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) exists to enhance the restaurant industry’s service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities.

As part of this mission, in 2010, NRAEF launched the ProStart Initiative (PSI) to increase funding for educating greater numbers of high school students through the ProStart program. The State Restaurant Associations (SRAs) and their foundations are a vital link to the students, schools and educational systems that administer the ProStart program.

The NRAEF and the Council of State Restaurant Associations (CSRA) with input from the CSRA ProStart Work Group developed the goal to provide an opportunity to help enrich current program activities. In support of this goal, the NRAEF will engage in direct fundraising activities and use monies raised to provide $750,000 of financial support to SRA partners.