ProStart Educator of Excellence Awards 2022

Honoring State Educators of the Year

The NRAEF ProStart® National Educator of Excellence Awards (EEA) recognize educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and passion, commitment, and creativity in all aspects of the ProStart program to help their students make the most of the opportunities that ProStart offers. Their stories inspire ProStart educators and supporters across the globe.

On Sunday, May 8, 2022 at the National ProStart Invitational Awards Gala, the following national EEA awards were announced:

EEA James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year Award

Ben Rengstorf, Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Established over a decade ago as a tribute to Golden Corral’s founder, James Maynard, this award honors one EEA winner for their tireless dedication to providing remarkable experiences to their ProStart students. The annual honoree receives a gift of $10,000.

EEA Classroom Expertise Award

Stephanie Kunkel, Jackson High School, Massillon, Ohio

EEA Best Practice & Knowledge Sharing Award

Dominic Hawkes, Lancaster County School District Career Center, Lancaster, South Carolina

EEA Industry Connections Award

Daniel Wagner, an educator at Greene County Career & Technology Center in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

2022 ProStart Educators of Excellence State Awardees

Each participating state restaurant association nominates its leading educator who has demonstrated a strong commitment to his or her students and to the ProStart Program.

Alabama
Doug Allen, Pelham High School, Pelham

Alaska
Paulette Ditzler, Chugiak High School, Eagle River

California
Stacy Chatfield, Fortuna Union High School, Arcata

Colorado
Chris Hill, Westminster High School, Westminster

Connecticut
Joshua Ogrodowski, Enfield High School, Enfield

Delaware
Christopher Shultz, Polytech High School, Harrington

Florida
Susan Dougherty, (Frank H.) Peterson Academy of Technology, Jacksonville

Georgia
Elissa Oliver, Riverwood International Charter School, Atlanta 

Illinois
Thomas Dwyer, Oswego High School, Oswego

Indiana
Brian Mendenhall, Central Nine Career Center, Greenwood

Iowa
Andrea Kuhl, Sergeant Bluff-Luton High School, Sioux City

Louisiana
Allison Armand, Pearl River High School, Pearl River

Maryland
Sarah (Fran) Freeberg, Annapolis High School, Annapolis

Massachusetts
Samantha Clarke, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fairhaven

Maine
Chef Heidi Parent, Capital Area Technical Center, Augusta

Michigan
Clint Frenette, Sanilac Career Center, Peck

Minnesota
Ben Rengstorf, Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis

Missouri
Andrea O’Bannon, Normandy Schools Collaboratiave High School, St. Louis

Nebraska
Mallory Gregory, Milford Public Schools, Milford

Nevada
Michael Hadobas, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Las Vegas

New Hampshire
Keith Desjardin, Pinkerton Academy, Derry

New Jersey
Ron Ossi, Passaic County Technical Institute, Highland Lakes

New York
Andrew Ottati, Questar III: Rensselaer Educational Center, Troy

North Carolina
Lauren Reneau, South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte

Ohio
Stephanie Kunkel, Jackson High School, Massillon

Pennsylvania
Daniel Wagner, Greene County Career & Technology Center, Waynesburg

Rhode Island
Sara Reilly, Chariho Career & Technical Center, Wood River Junction

South Carolina
Dominic Hawkes, Lancaster County School District Career Center, Lancaster

South Dakota
Janelle Whempner, Sioux Falls Career and Technical Education Academy, Sioux Falls

Utah
Candace Wilson, Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs

Vermont
David Groenewold, River Valley Technical Center, Springfield

Virginia
Ronald J. Evans, Potomac High School, Dumfries

West Virginia
Brian Covell, Monongalia Technical Education Center, Morgantown

Wisconsin
Jamie Lutz, Badger High School, Kenosha