IstroumaHigh School’s Louisiana ProStart students put on their chef hats and aprons September 22 and served up appetizers for a worthy cause at Whole Foods in Towne Centre.  The tasty mini-dishes cooked up by students like (left to right) 11th graders Charitty James and Dominque McGruder enticed shoppers to buy even more, thus contribute even more, to the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society (BRES) on Whole Foods Community Giving Day.  The store donated 5 percent of total purchases that day to BRES, which is a big supporter of the ProStart educational program. 
 
Louisiana ProStart, which is administered by the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation in 49 high schools statewide, is a dynamic, comprehensive two-year food service curriculum encouraging juniors and seniors to learn all aspects of operating and managing a food service establishment.  Upon completion of the program, students receive the National ProStart Certificate of Achievement.  BRES and the Louisiana Restaurant Association have donated funds, materials and equipment to the schools, like Istrouma High, participating in the program.