Students from the Herndon Career Center Culinary Arts program recently captured top honors in a prestigious culinary contest sponsored by the National Restaurant Association. More than 300 students from 39 states and territories participated in the eighth annual National ProStart® Invitational held April 24-26 in San Diego.  The event showcases the talents of top ProStart students as they compete in national culinary and management competitions. Missouri’s winning team included:   Kailey Ferguson, William Chrisman High School, and Andrea Svaglic, Truman High School, both in the Independence School District; Mark Leary and Thomas DeMarco, Lee’s Summit North High School; Zac Ray, Lee’s Summit High School; and Katie Dingman, Raytown High School. Ben Griswold, a former corporate chef who stepped out of the industry to become a teacher in 2004, is the culinary arts instructor at Herndon Career Center, which is operated by the Raytown School District.