Feb. 19, 2008 – A team of talented Hospitality Technology & Culinary Arts students from the Schoharie Career & Technical School, including Duanesburg senior Kayla Williams, cooked their way to first place during the New York State Restaurant Association's ProStart Culinary Competition in early February. This is the second consecutive year they have won this award.

In addition to Williams, team members include Katrina Gannon and Matthew Hudson (Middleburgh), Aaron Giebitz (Berne-Knox-Westerlo) and Michael Cushman (Schoharie). The group will head to the 2008 National Restaurant Association ProStart Competition in San Diego this April.

“It was a heart-pounding experience!” Gannon said. “I can’t wait for the nationals.”

In addition to earning their spot at the national competition, the winning students brought home trophies and college scholarships, along with valuable experience and advice. “It was inspiring to be judged by the best chefs in the industry and to hear them tell me how I can improve,” said Giebitz.

Fellow team member Hudson added, “I believe this experience helped us live life to the fullest. Go Capital Region!”

Teammate Williams summed it up. “We came, we conquered, and we won. We are going to California, and we are going to rock!”

The students are taught by Chef Nancy Iannacone, who last year was named 2007-08 New York State ProStart Teacher of the Year and was honored in the printed program at the state competition. Iannacone said, “Our team had to demonstrate their creative ability, skills and professionalism while preparing a three-course meal in 60 minutes. Their performance was observed, critiqued and rated by judges from leading colleges and universities and from the restaurant and food service industry. The Albany-based New York State Restaurant Association supports our students’ training and competitions.”

Schoharie Career & Tech’s team will compete at the National ProStart Student Invitational, presented by the National Restaurant Association, in San Diego, California, from April 24-26. Accompanying them to the national competition will be a team of Culinary Arts students from neighboring Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex county (WSWHE) BOCES, led by teacher Chef Charles Jones, who won the management/knowledge bowl competition at the state ProStart event. More than 35 states will be represented at the national competition.

> Back