FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tampa, Fl. (March 6, 2026) – Students from Strawberry Crest High School earned statewide recognition after sweeping the 25th Annual Florida ProStart Competition, taking first place overall as well as first place in both the culinary and restaurant management categories.
The competition was held in Orlando and featured student teams from across Florida. Strawberry Crest High School’s performance secured advancement to the National ProStart Invitational, which will be held in Washington, D.C., in April.
The culinary team, comprised of Riley Clark, Brinley Miranda, Ethan Weisenritter, Jessie Andrew, and Samantha Chung, earned first place in the culinary division. The restaurant management team, consisting of Toby Highsmith, Macey Riley, Dayana Hernandez, Abigail Emin, and Pooja Gopinathrao, captured first place in the management competition.
The school’s culinary program outperformed competitors from across the state, including programs participating in Florida’s ProStart initiative, the largest ProStart program in the nation with approximately 30,000 students enrolled annually.
“This incredible achievement reflects the strength of the programs we offer our students and the dedication of the educators who support them,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “We are extremely proud of the Strawberry Crest High School team for representing their school and our district with excellence on a statewide stage.”
The program is led by Hillsborough County Public School Chef Paul Bonanno, who brings 17 years of professional culinary experience to the classroom, including service as executive chef at Tampa’s Bernini restaurant. Under his leadership, students in the program have achieved a 98 percent pass rate on ServSafe and National Registry of Food Service Professionals exams, and 90 percent of top graduates move directly into the culinary workforce or post-secondary culinary education upon graduation.
Florida’s ProStart program provides students with hands-on experience in culinary arts and restaurant management, supported by universities and private sponsors. Participants compete for a share of $2.1 million in scholarships offered by institutions such as the Culinary Institute of America, Florida International University, and the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management.
To learn more about HCPS culinary programs visit hillsborougschools.org.