Cooking under pressure: Park City ProStart Team competes in state finals

PARK CITY, UTAH — Five students from Park City High School’s ProStart Culinary class—Jake Hadley, Brody Vleck, Hudson Underhill, Ainsley Dobberstein, Mia Lolli—put their skills to the test Tuesday at the Utah ProStart Culinary State Competition, held at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy.

Led by instructor Kari Patterson, the team navigated the high-stakes, team-based competition, which challenges students to develop recipes, calculate food costs, and execute dishes within a strict timeframe—using only camp stoves instead of the professional kitchen equipment available at their high school’s state-of-the-art facility.

The event, covered by FOX13 Salt Lake City, showcased the rigor of the ProStart program, which prepares high school students for careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Often likened to a team-based version of Top Chef, the competition requires students to balance precision, creativity, and efficiency under pressure.

Park City High School’s ProStart program, part of the school’s Careers To Employent Program (CTE), offers students access to top-tier culinary instruction. Competing in an environment that strips away those familiar comforts highlights the depth of their training and adaptability.

The ProStart program, developed by the National Restaurant Association, is designed to equip students with industry-relevant skills, providing a pathway to postsecondary education and careers in culinary arts and hospitality management.