Bonney Lake High School Culinary Arts teacher Kahale Ahina was selected as the 2013 ProStart Teacher of the Year by the Washington Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Ahina was also nominated for the 2013 National Restaurant Association Educator of the Year that will be announced at the ProStart Invitational in May. Chef Eric Hellner and recommended Ahina for the award, citing his significant contributions to the successful Culinary Arts program at the high school and the positive impact he has on students.
ProStart is a restaurant school-to-career program to prepare high school students for careers in the food service industry, according to the Washington Restaurant Association.
Each year participating students showcase their talents in cooking, knife skills and restaurant management in front of chef and industry judges at the Boyd Coffee ProStart Invitational. The 2013 Invitation was held March 2, at Clover Park Technical College. The Bonney Lake High School team of Savannah Wilcoxson, Matt Yantzer, Allison Kelly, Elizabeth Storm, and Darci Carns earned second place at the state competition.
