Thanks to a $20,000 modernization grant, the ProStart class at Pocahontas County High School has a brand new, restaurant-style kitchen.

ﾓItﾒs working really well,ﾔ teacher Teresa Mullen said. ﾓThis is more commercial equipment. There are a lot of restaurants that use gas [stoves] and they use hood vents, but there are quite a few that are going to the convection units because they donﾒt require hood vents, and they donﾒt have such stringent inspections from the fire marshal.ﾔ

Mullen said the class is equipped with new ovens, convection units and two butane stoves to give the students the opportunity to cook with gas, as well. With the new equipment, Mullen will have enough room for 24 students in each class.

ﾓI like it because my first year, [we] just had the old kitchen setup and you couldnﾒt cook as much, and the ovens werenﾒt as good,ﾔ junior Kala Honaker said.

The students have learned several recipes this year including: souffle, Monte Cristo sandwiches, oatmeal raisin cookies, pecan pie, pecan crusted cod, shrimp scampi and salmon pat�.