WASHINGTON — Caesar Rodney High School’s culinary team, after capturing the national championship title at the 2024 National ProStart Invitational in April, took a tour of one of the most exclusive kitchens in the world on Wednesday — the White House.
It was quite a thrill for the Riders, who won the national title at the April 26-28 competition in Baltimore, which was hosted by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
It marked the first time a ProStart Champion Culinary team has been recognized at the White House for their achievements and excellence in culinary arts.
Members of Caesar Rodney’s team, along with educator, mentor and Delaware Restaurant Association president Carrie Leishman, were invited to tour the White House and meet White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford.
Chef Comerford has led the White House Kitchen and staff since being appointed by first lady Laura Bush in 2005. She is the first female to serve in this role.
Delaware ProStart students enjoyed a conversation with Chef Comerford in the White House kitchen and shared with her details of their win at the National Prostart Invitational.
“It’s such a thrill for our Delaware students to be invited to the White House — a special recognition for not only top-performing athletes, but now a space where excellence in career and technical education and culinary skill is honored and celebrated,” Ms. Leishman said.
“These students are our industry’s best and brightest and will lead our industry’s growth and innovation for years to come.”
CR also won the national title in 2022 — with a second-place national finish in 2023.
Riki Senn serves as the culinary arts instructor for Caesar Rodney’s team and Tom Hannum of Buckey’s Tavern/Goober’s Diner, is a coach and mentor for the team.
The Riders’ championship team consisted of seniors Melia Stamper and Carys Raber, juniors Ralph Figueroa and Zoe Rowe and sophomore Shannon Powell.
They logged more than 300 hours of practice during the 2023-24 school year.
The trip to the White House kitchen was another accolade to a memorable year for the Riders.
“The day we returned from nationals (in April), we had a police escort into the school, and the entire school was standing out front, cheering and clapping and waving,” Ms. Senn said. “They click as a group, and when you work in a kitchen, you need that because you’re working in this little, small space. It’s almost like dancing. If I move this way, you need to move that way.
“They have practiced together enough, and we know each other enough that they’ve really become more like family.”
The National ProStart Invitational provides a platform for the students to compete for a share of scholarships totaling $200,000.
The competition features the country’s best student culinary and restaurant management teams, each of whom earned the right to compete after winning their state-level competitions.
Caesar Rodney has won the Delaware culinary title five years running, the longest winning streak in state ProStart history.
This year, the management team from Odessa High School won the management title in Delaware, also advancing to the national invitational.
Competing culinary teams prepared, plated and presented a three-course dining menu without access to electricity or running water and using just two butane burners.
They were assessed by judges on several factors, including food safety and sanitation, costing, preparation and plating/presentation.
Simultaneously, 48 restaurant management teams presented and defended original restaurant concepts across hour-long interactive Q&A periods with a panel of leading restaurant and food service industry judges.
The top five teams from the culinary and management competitions were awarded scholarships to help further their careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
The ProStart culinary program reaches nearly 165,000 students at almost 1,850 schools.
Supported by the Delaware Restaurant Foundation, ProStart in Delaware reaches more than 5,400 students in 22 public high schools and two correctional facilities.
“ProStart is not only a model career and technical pathway for culinary and hospitality management students, but a program that curates and fosters the passion, commitment and relationships between educators, mentors and industry coaches to propel student success,” Ms. Leishman said.
“It is a shining example of the best of the best in public educational programs, and I’m so excited for the recognition of the ProStart Program at the national level in the home of our government and leaders.”
Staff writer Mike Finney can be reached at 302-741-8230 or mfinney@iniusa.org.
Follow @MikeFinneyDSN on X.
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