by Ashley Freund and Jena Brosam

The TV series Chopped is no match for AHS foods students piloting the new culinary arts elective, ProStart.  Family Consumer Science teacher Meryl Hopper-Henningsen is teaching the ProStart Culinary Arts program. It is offered to any AHS student.

According to Hopper-Henningsen, the ProStart Culinary Arts program is a 4 semester program that trains students culinary techniques and managerial skills. ProStart provides real-life experiences and skills to prepare students for the future.  They will learn cooking and hotel and restaurant management. By the end of the 4 semesters, students have to have completed 400 hours of working in the foodservice industry. The hours can include volunteer and paid hours and working at the Trojan Diner and Madrigal Dinner.

Students have the opportunity to step up in culinary arts after graduating high school, said Hopper-Henningsen. After 4 semesters of the class, students will be able to take 2 national tests over the skills and knowledge, to earn a ProStart National Certificate of Achievement.

The certificate can count as college credits to certain schools. DMACC is one of the area colleges that accepts the certificate as 13 credits towards a Culinary Arts Associate’s degree.

Also, the certificate has job benefits. Hopper-Henningsen said, “The student can leave high school after going through their ProStart program, completing the work hours and passing the 2 national tests. They are able to go into the culinary field and would have some training and be hired before someone without any training.”