The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) officially launched its bid to find 2017’s top beauty industry students through the annual Beacon Program. The competition, which recognizes the nation’s leading beauty industry students and provides unique career-boosting education and networking opportunities, will accept entries from Nov. 22, 2016 to Jan. 19, 2017.

 Hundreds of students from around the country submit a portfolio that includes their resume, a letter of recommendation, work portfolio and a professional marketing piece. Entries are considered by a panel of industry judges, including salon and spa owners, manufacturers and distributors.

 Top score earners are invited to attend PBA Beauty Week, North America’s largest, most inclusive beauty event. While at the event, they take advantage of career-building opportunities featuring the nation’s top business educators, platform artists and beauty executives. Winners also participate in panel discussions, listen to industry insiders and have the opportunity to attend other PBA Beauty Week events such as PBA Business Forum and the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA).

 “The Beacon Program showcases the best and brightest students who, through their leadership, will shape how the beauty industry evolves in the coming years and decades,” said PBA Executive Director Steve Sleeper. “Entering Beacon provides these up-and-coming leaders with the opportunity to create their portfolio, and the tools they will need to embark on their professional journey.”

 The program aims to build up confidence among students beginning their careers and gives these winners a competitive advantage.

 Winners and honorable mentions of the 2017 program will be announced on March 27, 2017, with winners and honorable mentions attending the 2017 PBA Beauty Week show July 8-10, 2017 in Las Vegas.

 Full Beacon Program details and entry information is available by visiting probeauty.org/beacon/

 For more information on PBA, visit: probeauty.org/join.

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