Clearwater Pro Start Wins Awards

This has been quite the year for Clearwater’s culinary arts program. The classroom was remodelled this year, and a restaurant kitchen was installed. Just a few weeks ago, Christy Johnson, the program’s instructor, was named Missouri ProStart Teacher of the Year. Last week, her students went to competition and brought home awards at the competition that was held at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield.

The Culinary Team finished ninth. For the third year in a row, the CHS ProStart Management Team finished second in state competition. The hard work and great ideas of all of these individuals has earned $1000 for the Clearwater ProStart program from the Missouri Restaurant Association.

Clearwater has had the ProStart program for seven years. Since its inception, the students have won many honors.

“They have worked so hard at getting ready the last several months,” said Johnson. “There are HOURS and HOURS of work that go into this competition and both teams have worked so hard and have poured their heart and soul into their work. They have thought outside the box (and with so many real-world business and food prep skills) rolled with the punches (no matter what was thrown at them) and thought on their feet.”

ProStart is a national career-building program for high school students who are interested in culinary arts and food service management. Whether students are looking to enter the job market directly after graduating, or if they plan to attend college, a ProStart graduate makes a solid candidate for success.

Clearwater is among 100 high schools in the state who participate in ProStart. Several of Clearwater’s ProStart graduates are now pursuing careers in the culinary arts field and are attending culinary schools.