When Jun Chen, 17, needed to find Chinese lychee berries, she called her cousin in Los Angeles.

It's the kind of initiative any professional chef missing a key ingredient would take.

The lychee berries, combined with mango puree, are a critical component in the filling of the Mango Cream Cake that Chen and Shelby Hible created in the commercial kitchen at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming main branch.

The most important ingredient in the cake recipe, which took first place out of 22 entries in the State ProStart Culinary Arts baking competition recently, was motivation. And a little luck.

The cake, the recipe for which Chen holds as a closely guarded secret, was baked in Casper and transported by car to Jackson for judging.

"We had our eyes on it the whole time," Chen said.

ProStart began in the Natrona County School District with the 2006-2007 school year. There are nine students currently in the program, eight of whom attend their home schools in the morning and cook in the afternoon for an elective. Chen attends Kelly Walsh.

This school year, the program was open to anyone interested in attaining culinary skills, according to teacher Tammy Ray.

"It's very open enrollment, depending on their situation and what they need," Ray said Tuesday. "The majority are still significantly at-risk, although we do have one graduating in May and we are very, very excited about that."

On Tuesday, Ray, Chen and other ProStart students were recognized at a regular Boys & Girls Club board meeting.

Ashley Bright, chief operating officer, presented Ray with a gold plate to hang in ProStart's kitchen at the club.

"Our collaboration certainly fulfills the mission of the club and also in terms of utilization of the facility," Bright said. "We're happy to share the space we have, as well as support a program that absolutely impacts kids in a life-changing way."

Later, as other ProStart students served board members slow-cooked barbecued pork sandwiches on fluffy, homemade rolls, Ray stood in the kitchen and answered multiple questions at once.

"Is there more diet Pepsi?" someone asked.

"Look over there," she directed.

ProStart gives some kids a reason to come back to the Natrona County School District. It gives others badly-needed credit outside a classroom.

And for the community, it offers another catering option.

"We're doing a wedding April 12 for 200," Ray said. "It's not our first wedding, but it's our biggest to this point."

Although concern for students' stress level initially limited catering jobs to two per week, Ray acknowledged that busy times in the school calendar allow that number to be gently nudged.

"This is an extremely busy time for functions in the district," she said.

Chen's parents own the Dragon Wall restaurant in Casper. But she said patrons won't see the Mango Cream Cake on that menu anytime soon.

However, she absolutely knows what's in her future.

"I'm the one graduating in May," she beamed.

Reach Community News Editor Sally Ann Shurmur at (307) 266-0520; sallyann.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog

Catering 101

* All advertising for ProStart catering is done within the district or by word of mouth.

* Proceeds from the catering business go right back into the program's budget. Students who work events with 50 or more people or after 5 p.m., on weekdays share 10 percent gratuity.

* In addition to slow-cooked barbecued pork, ProStart's catering menu includes spaghetti, fried chicken, enchiladas, main course salads, deli trays, continental breakfast and homemade desserts.

* For more information about the ProStart program or its catering, call Ray at 251-0849.