Stephen DeShazo CEC-Academy Facilitator, Academy of Culinary Arts & Hospitality Services at Byron Nelson High School, and his Restaurant Prostart Management Team made up by Trenton Shank, Agron Mena and Nathan Hall developed a presentation titled “Son of a Biscuit”.  They traveled to the National Prostart Invitational after advancing through regional and state competitions.  The National Prostart Invitational was held April 27-29, Baltimore, Maryland and they WON! When the winners were announced and they were called to the stage it was an incredible and emotional experience. The awards banquet in the main ballroom held about 900 people and included CEO’s and leaders from many top companies and educational institutions from across America. The energy in the room was indescribable!

The full implications of this are not yet clear. They have already received numerous scholarship offers ranging from a few thousand dollars to $45,000 from New England Culinary Institute and a full ride at any Le Cordon Bleu in North America. University of Houston Conrad Hilton School is making a scholarship offer too that is yet to be determined.  The team is talking with media outlets for appearances, the City of Roanoke will be recognizing their accomplishment at next week’s City Council meeting, they will be recognized at the May 14th School Board meeting, they will be flown to Austin June 7th to be recognized by the Texas Restaurant Association Board of Directors, and the National Restaurant Association is flying the team to Washington D.C. June 24-26 to meet their elected officials and for a behind the scenes tour of our nation’s capital. Needless to say, these outstanding students are ROCK STARS!