November 2004
Contact: Dorothy Wills-Raftery
(845) 255-1400 xt. 1209

Ulster BOCES’ Victor Arnao Named ProStart Teacher of the Year
The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) Educational Foundation, announced that Victor Arnao, Culinary Arts instructor for the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center has been named ProStart Teacher of the Year. The NYSRA Educational Foundation administers the ProStart program in New York State. The disciplined program includes mentoring, paid internships, entrepreneurial skills, basic business skill development, nationally certified exams, scholarships, state and national competitions, and post-secondary opportunities for high school students.

“Ulster BOCES ProStart students are among the best in the state and I am sure due in no small part to the efforts of Chef Arnao,” states Harold Qualters, director of the NYSRA Educational Foundation. “My warmest congratulations to the administration of Ulster BOCES.”

“I was flabbergasted,” Arnao says of receiving the award. “I felt very humbled…this award is not just about me, it’s about ‘us’—the other instructors and I are a team. This is a great honor for our culinary program, department, and school. It’s an affirmation of what we are doing here in training the hospitality professionals and culinarians of tomorrow.”

“I am very pleased Victor Arnao has been recognized by the NYSRA Educational Foundation,” comments Howard Korn, director of the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center and Adult Services. “His work with the students is exemplary. His ability to bring a higher standard and integrated academics to our curriculum is commendable. Mr. Arnao works as part of a team with two other culinary instructors and, as a team, they have achieved a high level of quality service to the students and that has resulted in really turning around our Culinary Arts program.”

The nationwide ProStart initiative encourages high school students to think about careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Nationwide, ProStart involves approximately 40,000 students and well over 5,000 educators. In New York State, ProStart presently operates in 28 schools, reaching over 1,200 students and well over 70 educators.

The ProStart program introduces students to a comprehensive hospitality industry program at the 11th and 12th grade levels. The curriculum is geared toward the skills and competency needs of the foodservice industry and supports learning elements of the United States Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS). SCANS represents essential skills needed for high-quality job performance and is mandated by the New York State Education Department.