This month’s Workforce Trailblazer is Moorhead High School Career Academy’s ProStart teacher, Johanna Heigaard. On behalf of Moorhead High School Career Academy, Johanna was recently awarded the Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant. 

Moorhead High School Career Academy is one of 40 high schools nationwide selected to receive a $5,000 grant from The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) to enhance their ProStart culinary arts and restaurant management program with new equipment, curriculum, and experiential learning opportunities. The funds from the Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grant Program will allow Moorhead High School Career Academy to provide impactful hands-on learning field trips to local farms, businesses, and producers, fostering valuable connections and community partnerships to promote innovative farm-to-table approaches.

Johanna says, “I am excited to leverage this grant to elevate our culinary program and cultivate a new generation of passionate, skilled individuals ready to make a positive impact in our community.”

“Providing Grow Grants is one of my favorite times of the year. The educators who invest their passion and energy into their classrooms are inspiring. I love to see the impact their work has on the students who graduate from ProStart with the knowledge and excitement for the restaurant industry,” said Rachael Ray.

Victoria Marley, Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation Manager of Partnerships & Programming agrees, “We are so proud of Johanna for leveraging her community collaborations with fundraising opportunities like this to make an even bigger impact for her students.”