ORLA’s Education Foundation Awards Scholarships

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s (ORLA) Education Foundation Presented Two Oregon High School Grads with ProStart Scholarships for Education in the Hospitality Industry

August 11, 2011 - Wilsonville, OR

Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association’s Education Foundation (ORLAEF) in conjunction with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) awarded two recent high school graduates with scholarships to help further their studies in Culinary Arts. Former ProStart students Lorin Howell from Roseburg High School and Amber Holten from Sprague High School will each receive $5,000 to continue studies at post-secondary schools in the Northwest.

“ProStart unites the industry and the classroom to create a unique and unparalleled experience for students” said Jeff Hampton, executive director of ORLA’s Education Foundation. “We are pleased to be able to assist these students in furthering their education and following their dreams - they are the foodservice leaders of tomorrow.”

During her time at Roseburg High, Lorin Howell competed in the Oregon ProStart High School Culinary Championships, was named “Student of the Month” and received recognition as a National Honor Roll student for maintaining a 4.0 GPA during her senior year. Lorin was also the Western Region Vice President and Public Relations Director of FCCLA. She will begin her studies at Umpqua Community College, with plans to attend Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland. Lorin’s passion for baking and pastries has inspired her to return to Roseburg and open a bakery and patisserie upon completion of her studies at the Art Institute.

Amber Holten studied culinary arts and foodservice throughout high school at Sprague and has been active in the ProStart program, competing in the Oregon ProStart High School Culinary Championships this past February. She will continue her Culinary Arts education at Lake Washington Technical College in Kirland, WA. Following college, Amber plans to pursue her life-long dream of owning an environmentally-conscious bakery. This culinary endeavor will include a rigorous composting program and energy efficient utilities, address the vegetarian and vegan consumer base and support locally owned and operated businesses whenever possible.

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that develops culinary techniques and management skills. By bringing industry and the classroom together, ProStart’s real-world educational opportunities give students a platform to discover new interests and talents while opening doors for fulfilling careers. With national and local support from industry members, educators, NRAEF and state restaurant associations, ProStart reaches 90,000 students nationwide.

For more information on ORLA’s ProStart program, please contact Oregon ProStart Coordinator, Jami Scott at 503.682.4422 or by visiting www.Oregonrla.org/Training.