The 2025 NC ProStart Invitational was held at NC Central University in Durham on March 13-14.
1st Place Culinary – Asheville High School
1st Place Management – Asheville High School
2024 Educator of Excellence – Debbie Sturgill
12 teams of high-schoolers from nine high schools in North Carolina put their culinary and management skills to the test at the North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association Foundation’s (NCRLAF) annual North Carolina ProStart Invitational (NCPI) on March 13-14 at North Carolina Central University’s Student Center in Durham. Team members from Asheville High School won the management competition, and Cary High School students won the culinary competition and represented the state at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, MD on May 2-4, 2025.
Aiesha Truesdale from CE Jordan High School in Durham was named North Carolina’s 2025 Educator of Excellence. This honor is awarded each year to recognize educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and passion, commitment and creativity in all aspects of the ProStart program to help their students make the most of the opportunities that ProStart offers.
2025 NCPI Winning Culinary Teams
First Place: Cary High School, Cary
Second Place: Asheville High School, Asheville
Third Place: Garinger High School, Charlotte
2025 NCPI Winning Management Teams
First Place: Asheville High School, Asheville
Second Place: Clyde A. Erwin High School, Asheville
Third Place: Cary High School, Cary
Highlights from 2024
2024 NCPI Culinary Winners
First place: Asheville High School, Asheville
Second place: East Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte
2024 NCPI Management Winners
First place: Asheville High School, Asheville
Second place: Cary High School, Cary
Highlights from 2023
2023 NCPI Culinary Winners
First place: Independence High School, Charlotte
Second place: Ashe County High School, West Jefferson
Third place: South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte
2023 NCPI Management Winners
First place: Asheville High School, Asheville
Second place: South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte
Third place: Cary High School, Cary
