Lawmakers honor ProStart student champions, coaches and PTA leaders

Delaware lawmakers used part of the April 15 House session to recognize student teams and community partners connected to the state ProStart competition and to welcome state and national PTA leaders.

Representatives Urich and Snyder Hall led tributes to Cesar Rodney High School's ProStart culinary team and Cape Henlopen High School's ProStart management team after both won state championships in the Delaware ProStart Student Invitational. Representative Urich thanked the Delaware Restaurant Association and coaches for supporting student competitors and noted the invitational drew 18 teams judged on culinary and management skills.

Tom Hannum, coach for Cesar Rodney and owner of Buckley's Tavern, praised the students' long practice schedules and professional skills, calling their effort "exceptional." A chamber speaker noted that the Cape Henlopen management team (Stella Farrell, Lexi Cugno, Jocelyn Detweiler, Cecilia D'Acarmo and Jamika Bodner) placed first and will represent Delaware at the national ProStart Student Invitational in Baltimore.

Several students stepped to the mic to state their names, grades and school affiliations for the official record. Representatives also welcomed members of the Delaware PTA and acknowledged National PTA President Yvonne Johnson and current state PTA president Kelly Coffey in attendance.

The acknowledgments highlighted the role of ProStart and PTA programs in workforce development for the restaurant and hospitality sectors and provided public recognition for students advancing to national competition.