Weld Central High School’s ProStart Program: Preparing Future Culinary Professionals
Weld Central High School’s ProStart program, led by teacher Kim Dienes, is shaping the future of students passionate about the culinary arts. Supported by partnerships with local businesses and industry experts, the program provides hands-on experience, certifications, and real-world opportunities to give students a head start in the restaurant and hospitality field.
ProStart's collaboration with local restaurants and businesses is a critical component of the program's success. “Local restaurants and businesses have currently joined our Advisory Board and have been supportive in encouraging our students to finish their ServSafe certification,” says Dienes. One standout partner is Rossi Farms, which has generously donated produce for students to use in the classroom and offered a unique Farm to Table field trip. Dienes hopes to see these collaborations expand with more guest chef visits, apprenticeships, and internships, which will allow students to immerse themselves further in the culinary world.
The program also offers tangible benefits like the ServSafe certification, a sought-after qualification in the hospitality industry. Earning this certification while still in high school makes students more marketable, saving employers the costs associated with training. “Many employers in the restaurant and hospitality industry offer incentives to complete the ServSafe certification through programs such as ProStart,” Dienes adds. “This includes higher wages and more advanced opportunities within the industry.”
For students like Alex, Stephan, Trinity, and Sage, the impact of the ProStart program goes beyond technical skills. Alex, who comes from a family of caterers, feels confident about pursuing her dream of opening a restaurant in Keenesburg. Stephan never imagined a career as a chef, but the program has opened his mind to new possibilities. Trinity values hands-on experience and learning about diverse cuisines, while Sage emphasizes teamwork skills and culinary techniques that will serve her well, even if she doesn't pursue a culinary career.
The excitement for cooking and the potential career paths that ProStart opens are shared by all the students. Alex speaks passionately about her goal to follow in her family's footsteps, while Sage enjoys the creativity involved in transforming recipes into unexpected dishes. The dream of running their own restaurant is alive for many of these students. Alex, in particular, feels more empowered now that she has ProStart's certification under her belt, stating, "With the skills from ProStart, I feel like it is definitely a possibility now!"
The ProStart program is giving students not just the tools for success in the culinary world, but the confidence to dream big and pursue careers they might never have considered. With a growing network of community support, this program is turning passion into potential and setting the stage for the next generation of chefs and hospitality professionals.
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