Winners announced at 2026 Texas ProStart Invitational in Waco

Winners announced at 2026 Texas ProStart Invitational in Waco

More than $3 million in scholarships awarded at statewide competition; students from Pearland and Rockwall, TX, advance to National ProStart Invitational after first-place finish.

WACO, TX (March 23, 2026) - The Texas Restaurant Foundation announced the winners of the 2026 Texas ProStart Invitational, presented by Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, at the Waco Convention Center. More than 900 high school culinary and hospitality students from across Texas competed in a series of high-stakes contests, earning scholarships and the opportunity to advance to the National ProStart Invitational.

"This competition represents the future of the Texas restaurant industry," Heather Pickett, executive director of the Texas Restaurant Foundation, said. "Each year, these students demonstrate the creativity, discipline, and professionalism that define success in hospitality. Through Texas ProStart, we are connecting them with scholarships, real-world training, and clear pathways into an industry that depends on strong talent."

More than $3 million in scholarships were awarded to top-performing teams and individual competitors during the two-day event. Students competed in team-based culinary and restaurant management contests, while more than 300 students also competed individually across 20 categories testing technical skills, creativity and speed.

The following student teams earned top honors at the 2026 Texas ProStart Invitational:
Nationals Management
1st Place - Robert Turner College & Career High School, Pearland, TX
2nd Place - Ben Barber Innovation Academy, Mansfield, TX
3rd Place - Dubiski Career High School, Grand Prairie, TX

Nationals Culinary
1st Place - Dr. Gene Burton College & Career Academy, Rockwall, TX
2nd Place - Ben Barber Innovation Academy, Mansfield, TX
3rd Place - Robert Turner College & Career High School, Pearland, TX

Lone Star Management
1st Place - North Mesquite High School, Mesquite, TX
2nd Place - Forney ISD, Forney, TX
3rd Place - Poteet High School, Mesquite, TX

Lone Star Culinary
1st Place - North Mesquite High School, Mesquite, TX
2nd Place - Forney & North Forney High Schools, Forney, TX
3rd Place - Stephenville High School, Stephenville, TX

A full list of winners can be found here.
First-place National teams will represent Texas at the 2026 National ProStart Invitational, taking place in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning April 24. For more information on ProStart visit txrestaurant.org.


ABOUT THE TEXAS RESTAURANT FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995 as the charitable arm of the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Restaurant Foundation (TRF) is dedicated to building and strengthening the future of the restaurant industry through education, workforce development, and scholarships. TRF oversees Texas ProStart, a premier culinary and restaurant management training program reaching over 34,000 high school students in 260+ schools statewide. The foundation also leads industry-driven initiatives such as the TX Restaurant Relief Fund, which has provided millions in crisis support, and innovative workforce development programs that connect businesses with trained, job-ready talent. These include Second Chances, which helps justice-involved individuals reenter the workforce, and specialized training initiatives designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Since its founding, TRF has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals.