The South Carolina ProStart® Invitational brings together the state’s brightest high school culinary and restaurant management students to challenge their skills and creativity.
About The Invitational
Culinary Competition
High school culinary teams have 60 minutes to plan, prepare, and plate a full three-course meal — all using only two butane burners, two eight-foot tables, and no electricity or running water.
Students demonstrate advanced knife skills, food safety, teamwork, timing, and creativity. Dishes are judged on taste, presentation, menu development, and proper cooking techniques.
Management Competition
Future restaurant leaders develop and pitch an original restaurant concept — including branding, menu design, layout, staffing, and financial planning.
Teams present their plan to a panel of industry and post-secondary judges, defend their decisions, and answer critical-thinking questions about how they’d handle real-world scenarios.
Scholarships & Recognition
The Invitational is more than a competition — it’s a launching pad.
Top-scoring teams in both Culinary and Management divisions receive generous scholarships to pursue degrees in hospitality, culinary arts, or restaurant management. Winning teams may also qualify to represent South Carolina at the National ProStart Invitational, competing against the best students in the country.
Congratulations to the 2025 Top Teams!
Management Competition
1st place – Wando High School
2nd place – Donaldson Career Center
3rd place – Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School
4th place – G. Frank Russell Technology Center
5th place – Pelion High School
Culinary Competition
1st place – Anderson Career and Technology Center
2nd place – Enoree Career Center
3rd place – Golden Strip Career Center
4th place – Ninety-Six High School
5th place – Pelion High School
Take Your Skills to Nationals 🏆
The top teams from the South Carolina ProStart Invitational earn the chance to represent our state at the National ProStart Invitational — the nation’s premier competition for high school culinary and management students.
Compete against the best, showcase your talent on a national stage, and unlock even more scholarship opportunities.
Competition Policies, Documents & Registration
Hotel Reservations & Information
Embassy Suites Golf Resort & Conference Center
670 Verdae Blvd, Greenville, SC 29607
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Group Rate: Group Rate: $139 ++ tax per night (Single, Double, Triple, Quad)
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State Tax: 13.8% per room, per suite, per night
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Reservation Deadline: February 9, 2026
How to Reserve:
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Book online: SCRLA ProStart Invitational (Hotel Reservation Link)
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Call to Book: 1-800-EMBASSY | Group Code: 96D
All participating teams are required to stay at the designated hotel to be eligible to compete.
Event Documents
Rules: See attached PDF
Dish Request Form: See attached PDF
Waivers: See attached PDF
Agenda: See attached PDF
Registration Links
Team Registration:
https://www.scrla.org/page/SCPI_Invit
Guest – Full Registration:
https://www.scrla.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=21426960
Guest – Awards Ceremony Only:
https://www.scrla.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=19452246
Cancellation Policy
Teams may cancel and withdraw from competition without penalty through January 21, 2026.
Contact us at: info@scrla.org.
Judges
Judges Sign-Up & Information:
https://www.scrla.org/page/2026SCPI_JudgesSignUp
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship forms and links coming soon.
