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To more learn about Kaylee's ProSmart experience, visit www.goprostart.com.
Kaylee's podcasts are available at here.

Kaylee Crane is a freshman Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management student. Kaylee was selected by the South Carolina Tourism and Hospitality Educational Foundation to be filmed for a special website and a pod cast to help communicate with ProStart students about the importance of the program and getting a college education.

ProStart, a program developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, is a career building program that encourages on site experience and learning in a classroom environment.  54,000 students from 1,300 different schools in 47 different states and territories participate in ProStart.  The goal of the ProStart program is to help teach culinary skills and basic foodservice management.  Students can enter the job market directly after high school, or they can attend college, like Kaylee. Either way ProStart students have a great opportunity to achieve success.

To truly understand how Kaylee got to where she is today, you need to know a little about her past. At the age of 14 Kaylee’s mom decided that it was time for her daughter to get a job. Kaylee began working at The Petit Paris Bistro in Scituate, Massachusetts. She began bussing tables, washing dishes, and preparing salads. One day Kaylee was asked by the owner, Chef Norbert Bouhaha if she would like to help.

That is where Kaylee’s passion for cooking began. She worked under Chef Norbert for two years, learning everything from the basic sauces, to creating elegant meals, to making desserts. At the beginning of her junior year of high school, Kaylee moved to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, where her passion for cooking continued to grow. Kaylee enrolled in Chef Julian Bucker’s culinary arts class at Wando High School. Chef Buckner introduced Kaylee to the ProStart program. With Chef Buckner as a mentor Kaylee won first place in the 2006 Sustainable Seafood Contest. That victory landed Kaylee a spot on the school’s ProStart Culinary team.
Kaylee’s team went on to win at the South Carolina state competition and they competed at the national competition in Charlotte.  While competing at the National ProStart Student Invitational Kaylee was selected to speak in front of the 53,000+ ProStart students to help introduce the new Chairman of the National Restaurant Association, Dick Rivera.

Kaylee’s on camera talent led to another project. This project is a special website and pod cast produced by the South Carolina Tourism and Hospitality Educational Foundation to help show ProStart students the benefits of the program and of a college education. The pod casts will follow Kaylee throughout all four years of college. Most people might be a little unsure about being filmed for four years, but not Kaylee. She thinks it will be fun to look back and watch herself to see how she matures throughout college.  So far she has been filmed moving into her dorm, walking around campus, and in several classes.  “The whole project is my motivation to do well in school,” says Kaylee.

Unlike some culinary arts students Kaylee wanted to attend a four year university. She did not want to be just a chef, she wanted to learn how to manage things from the “front of the restaurant, all the way to the back.” She also did not want to miss out on the college experience. She is even considering going to graduate school one day.
Kaylee’s decision to attend the University of South Carolina dates back from a rivalry almost as old as the school itself, Clemson versus Carolina. The first party she was invited to after moving to South Carolina was a Clemson versus Carolina football party. When asked to pick sides Kaylee chose Carolina and has been stuck on USC ever since.  She also got the opportunity to meet with HRTM alumni and talk to them about the program. USC’s great HRTM department and Kaylee’s love for the Gamecocks helped make her decision to attend USC very easy.

Kaylee’s freshmen year is already off to a great start. She says her favorite class HRTM 110- Introduction to the Hospitality with Professor Coon. She loves to bake for her entire hall in her residence hall. Her speciality of the week is pumpkin spice cake cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Kaylee is looking forward to all the things USC and the college of HRTM have to offer. “I wouldn’t trade being here for the world,” says Kaylee.

When asked about her ultimate career goal, Kaylee would like to own her own hotel and restaurant.  “The best feeling in the world is knowing you made someone happy,” says Kaylee. She would also like to take the things she has learned and help teach others. We wish Kaylee the best of luck and we look forward to watching her grow!