Mount Si student named ProStart Student of the Year

By Allison Espiritu • March 19, 2010 4:30 pm
Mount Si senior Brianna Kelly was named ProStart Student of the Year in Washington state. She was nominated by Mount Si culinary arts teacher Laura Tarp and competed against 27 other students. Kelly has been involved in the ProStart program at Mount Si for the past three years.
Mount Si senior Brianna Kelly was named ProStart Student of the Year in Washington state. She was nominated by Mount Si culinary arts teacher Laura Tarp and competed against 27 other students. Kelly has been involved in the ProStart program at Mount Si for the past three years.

Mount Si High School senior Brianna Kelly is the 10th annual 2010 ProStart Student of the Year for the state of Washington.

Kelly was nominated by Mount Si ProStart and culinary arts teacher Laura Tarp.

Competing against 27 other students, one from each school in Washington, Kelly’s involvement in the ProStart program and passion for culinary arts won her recognition.

“I chose to nominate her because she’s fabulous,” Tarp said.

Kelly has been in the ProStart program at Mount Si High School for the past three years and is currently the president of Mount Si’s Culinary Club.

Tarp wrote in her nomination letter, “This talented young lady is a role model because of her high standards in hospitality. She is dedicated to the culinary program, putting in 200-plus hours in service to others.”

Applying for the award, Kelly also had to write why she deserved to be named ProStart Student of the Year.

Announcing the winner at the Culinary Competition at South Seattle Community College on March 6, Kelly said she saw her name in the events program along with another candidate.

“Ms. Tarp told me that they’d be announcing who got the award between us, and I got nervous and didn’t know what I’d say if I got it,” Kelly said.

When Kelly’s name was called, she was asked if she wanted to say anything. Excited that she had achieved the award but lost for words, Kelly did know one thing — she couldn’t have done it without Tarp.

“I knew all I needed to do was thank Ms. Tarp for nominating me,” Kelly said. “Everybody who went with us said her face lit up and she was so excited that I mentioned her.”

“Brianna is the epitome of a ProStart success story,” said Anthony Anton, Washington Restaurant Association president and CEO. “Her drive and passion, combined with the ProStart curriculum, have given Brianna the foundation needed to flourish as a hospitality industry professional. Our goal is to see more students experience the same benefits of ProStart.”

Not only winning the recognition of becoming the 2010 ProStart Student of the Year, Kelly was also awarded a $1,000 scholarship towards any school of her choice.

“It opens a lot of doors for her,” Tarp said.

Kelly hopes to earn a career in the culinary arts and wants to specialize in wedding cakes.

She hopes to attend South Seattle Community College after high school for its exceptional culinary arts program.