HOSPITALITY MN EDUCATION FOUNDATION

PROSTART PROGRAM:PROSTART IS A TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM FOR CULINARY ARTS AND FOODSERVICE MANAGEMENT THAT INCLUDES CLASSROOM STUDY, MENTORED WORK EXPERIENCES AND AN OPTIONAL PROSTART INVITATIONAL COMPETITION. PROSTART, AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, IS OFFERED IN OVER 100 MINNESOTA SCHOOLS ENGAGING MORE THAN 5,500 STUDENTS WITH OVER 750 ALREADY WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY. THE HMEF CONNECTS MENTORS TO EACH SCHOOL, PROVIDES PROGRAM TEACHERS WITH TRAINING AND INDUSTRY RESOURCES, AND SPONSORS THE STATEWIDE PROSTART COMPETITION EACH SPRING. THE COMPETITION FEATURES TWO CATEGORIES: CULINARY ARTS AND FOODSERVICE MANAGEMENT. ANNUALLY , UP TO TWENTY TEAMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE FOR AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE TOP TEAM IN EACH CATEGORY ADVANCED TO THE NATIONAL PROSTART INVITATIONAL HELD IN MAY. HMEF PROVIDES A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE TO EACH TEAM. THE TALENTS OF PROSTART STUDENTS ARE FEATURED AT SEVERAL INDUSTRY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR CONNECTING THEM WITH FUTURE EMPLOYERS AND REINFORCING THEIR CAREER CHOICES.

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM:THE HOSPITALITY & TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (HTMP) IS A CURRICULUM DEVELOPED BY THE AMERICAN HOTEL & LODGING ASSOCIATION THAT INTRODUCES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO THE LODGING INDUSTRY. THE CURRICULUM COVERS EVERYTHING FROM FRONT OFFICE AND HOUSEKEEPING MANAGEMENT TO MARKETING AND SALES, FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AS WELL AS GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. MINNESOTA CURRENTLY HAS TWENTY-FIVE SCHOOLS TEACHING THIS PROGRAM WITH AROUND 350 STUDENTS. THE HMEF HAS FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO SCHOOLS INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS CONNECTIONS TO MENTORS AND INDUSTRY CONTACTS FOR EACH TEACHER, PROVIDING A "REAL WORLD" RESOURCE FOR THE CLASSROOM.