Rhode Island Senate congratulates ProStart winners, sends teams to national contest

The Rhode Island Senate on March 25 passed a resolution congratulating winners of the 13th annual ProStart High School competition and recognized students who will represent the state at the national invitational in Baltimore in May.

Senator Goh, who introduced the resolution, called ProStart “an outstanding resource that provides young students with valuable skills and experience,” and moved its passage. The clerk read a resolution outlining ProStart as a two‑year hospitality career program and naming participating schools and top competitors, noting the competition offered $700,000 in scholarship money and advancement opportunities for winners.

Senator Mack, who served as a judge this year, praised the competitors’ presentations and business plans. “It was a truly incredible experience to watch young people not only make really comprehensive business plans, but really step into their own voice,” Mack said.

Whip Tocquoyan introduced the winning students on the chamber floor, asking members of the William M. Davies Junior Career and Technical High School culinary and food‑service teams and the Charahoe Area Career and Technical Center hospitality team to stand and be recognized. The resolution passed by voice vote; the presiding officer announced, “the ayes have it.”

The Senate’s action formally extends congratulations to the named students and schools and directs the secretary of state to transmit copies of the resolution to the schools and Charahotech per the resolution text. The teams will advance to the national ProStart invitational in Baltimore on May 2–4, 2025.