EDUCATION
Virginia ProStart Launches Industry Mentorship Program By Andrew Gladstein Culinary Institute of Virginia & Education Foundation Chair
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he Virginia ProStart program, currently offered in 55 high schools and serving over 3,200 students, has announced plans to pilot an Industry Mentorship Program (IMP) for the 2015-2016 school year. ProStart is a technical education program offered through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRA-EF) designed to both prepare and inspire high school students for careers in the restaurant and food service sector. Virginia ProStart IMP’s purpose is to support the mission of the NRA-EF by strengthening the connection between hospitality employers, educators and students. “Having active professionals in the classroom adds real value to students,” says Chef Suzette Johnson, a Culinary Arts Instructor at Landstown High School in Virginia Beach. “Students hear first-hand how relevant their curriculum is and can see, literally right in front of them, a clear path into a career that they are passionate about.” For most, the motivation to serve as a professional or personal mentor is mainly altruistic. This certainly applies to hospitality professionals, whose natural inclination is to provide service to others. However, as an industry, the benefit of a successful mentorship program in ProStart classrooms can have a much larger, long-term impact. “By electing to register for a class focused on hospitality, these students are telling us they find something intriguing about what we do every day,” comments Eric Terry, VRLTA President. “Professional mentors can really inspire students to stay focused on our industry after high school, whether it be through joining the workforce directly or continuing in a hospitality-related college program.” Virginia ProStart plans to roll out the Industry Mentorship Program throughout the current calendar year. “The focus of the pilot is to build a framework for efficient and effective relationships between educators and industry mentors, and not just facilitate introductions,” states Jim Wilson, VRLTA Director of Education & Workforce Development. By developing this Mentorship Program, it is the hope of VRLTA that the Virginia ProStart Program grow beyond the in-class learning and competition training. With its addition, VRLTA and Virginia ProStart can truly take the next step in helping students prepare for a career in foodservice. Students who successfully complete ProStart Level 1 and Level 2 and 400 hours of mentored work experience are eligible to earn the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement (COA). ProStart graduates earning this prestigious certificate possess a strong foundation for a career in foodservice, open doors to a career in our industry and become eligible for national scholarships and college level credits. Hospitality professionals interested in learning more about the ProStart program and future participation in the IMP program can contact Jim at jim@vrlta.org. W ww . V R L T A . O R G
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