Now Accepting COA's Through June 30th!

It’s COA Time!

We will accept COA paperwork through June 30.

TWO WEEKS before you test, please have your students log into their accounts to confirm they have access.

If they have completed a level one exam, be sure they can see their results

If your student has never tested, have them create an account. Use the directions found in the Educator Portal HERE

If your student cannot access their account – send an email ASAP to info@oraef.org

If you are a multiple educator school, send us the names and email addresses of all the students that will be testing so that we can merge their accounts

If you still have questions reach out to info@oraef.org ASAP. COA'S MUST BE RECIEVED BEFORE JUNE 30TH TO BE PROCESSED FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR.

COA resources are in the Educator Portal HERE

Honor Cords

If you need honor cords for your 2026 graduates, please reach out to Abby at adelriesgo@ohiorestaurant.org. They will be mailed to you. Please include your school’s graduation date in the email to ensure they arrive on time.

If you didn't see last week... A Message From Our Executive Director, Patty Halper

It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as the Hospitality Institute of Ohio/Ohio ProStart Executive Director. Working alongside such passionate and dedicated culinary educators has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Every day, you bring skill, heart, and purpose to your work by shaping young lives and preparing them for meaningful careers in hospitality.

It is amazing how quickly twelve years have flown by. I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together—from implementing Ohio ProStart exams in lieu of WebXams, to establishing Ohio Hospitality CTSO, to earning recognition as a Pre-Apprenticeship program.

While this transition is bittersweet, I retire with full confidence knowing that you are in very capable hands. The strength, talent, and dedication of the Hospitality Ohio team will continue to carry the organization forward with passion, excellence, and integrity.

Thank you for your support, your partnership, and the countless memorable moments we have shared. I will always carry this experience close to my heart and am deeply appreciative of each of you. Wishing you continued success in the classroom!

The ORHA is conducting a process to identify the next leader of the Hospitality Institute of Ohio. In the interim, Ohio ProStart operations will continue to be supported by its current staff which includes Sonya Delaney and Abby Del Riesgo.

We would like to celebrate Patty’s amazing work, and we know she would love to hear from each of you! I am working on a compilation of well wishes - please feel free to send an email or create a video message and email it to me at sdelaney@ohiorestaurant.org.

Save the Date! Teacher Institute – Friday, September 25

Mark your calendars – Teacher Institute is being held September 25 at Zink Foodservice in Columbus. Registration is open! Sign up HERE.

Award Winners!

Tri-County Career Center has been named Ohio’s Hospitality CTSO Chapter of the Year! From jumping into events to completing impactful service projects, their energy and commitment to executing a successful Ohio Hospitality CTSO chapter is impressive! Join us in congratulating them on a successful year!

Scholarship Winners have been notified, and will be celebrated on May 5th at Celebration of the Stars.

We are proud to celebrate Chef Tamara Penny of the Ohio School for the Deaf as the 2026 Teacher of Excellence Award winner.

In just five years, Chef Tamara has built an outstanding program from the ground up, transforming it into a thriving and impactful experience for her students. She leads a student-run coffee shop and has guided her culinary teams to back-to-back victories at the Deaf Culinary Bowl—remarkable achievements that speak to her leadership and dedication.

Even more impressive is the environment she creates every day—one where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to be themselves.

Please join us in congratulating Chef Tamara on this well-deserved recognition!

NEW: The 2026 ProStart Passport is Here!

The 2026 ProStart Passport is now available for ProStart students nationwide. The Passport includes information about post-secondary schools that offer college credit and/or scholarships to ProStart students who have earned the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement (COA). The updated Passport can be found here.

We are excited to announce three new partnerships:

August Escoffier School of Culinary Arts

Johnson & Wales University

Unity Environmental University

Why it Matters

The ProStart Passport offers students a clear outline of where they can take the skills they gained in ProStart and apply them to the next step in solidifying their career pathway.

Ohio ProStart and Ohio Hospitality CTSO 2026-2027 Calendars

Coming soon!

Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Students can earn their COA (Certificate of Achievement) and Pre- Apprenticeship designation. Both are work-based learning opportunities. A COA earns 9 points toward graduation, and Pre-Apprenticeship earns 12. The process is simple, with just a few forms to complete each month.

Email info@oraef.org with any questions.

This is a great opportunity for your students! We currently have 3 schools enrolled: Tri-County, Ohio Valley, and Stow Munroe. Please register your students so we can submit to the state of Ohio!

Click HERE to view the Pre-Apprenticeship Guidelines & Click HERE for the Pre-Apprenticeship Application