The Beauty Changes Lives Foundation, through generous funding from Massage Envy Spa, has awarded six $2,000 massage therapy scholarships to aspiring massage therapists. Each scholarship will help fund the recipient’s education at a massage therapy school affiliated with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS).

The scholarship winners and their respective massage therapy schools are as follows:

Jamie Blazquez, ASIS Massage Education School, Flagstaff, Ariz.

Deborah Campos, Finger Lakes School of Massage, Ithaca, N.Y.

Chris Johns, Finger Lakes School of Massage, Ithaca, N.Y.

Colette Milazzo, Bellus Academy, Poway, Calif.

Christy Palmer, Spa Tech Institute, Ipswich, Mass.

Stephen Potter, Finger Lakes School of Massage, Mount Kisco, N.Y.

The number of individuals applying for Beauty Changes Lives scholarships increased more than 300 percent over its initial massage scholarship competition that kicked off in July 2013. “Often, the practicing massage therapist is the influencer in helping an individual make the decision to pursue a career as a massage therapist. The professionals at Massage Envy Spa have been wonderful partners in helping share the word about scholarship opportunities,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation.

CG Funk, Vice President of Industry Relations at Massage Envy Spa, said the scholarships relieve the financial concerns that keep people from pursuing their dream of a career in the massage industry. “By removing the financial barriers through the gift of education, we’re able to help people pursue careers in massage therapy and use the gift of therapeutic touch to help others feel better. Beauty and wellness really do change lives,” Funk said.As individuals’ interest in total wellness and the integration of massage therapy into a wellness regimen grows, massage therapy remains among the 10 fastest growing careers in the U.S.

Remarking on the three scholarship studentsenrolled in the same school system, Lynch credited schools with encouraging their students to take advantage of scholarship opportunities. “The Finger Lakes School of Massageurgedthat each and every one of their students apply for a scholarship. The success of their students in receiving this educational funding will no doubt motivate other schools and students to take advantage of scholarship opportunities,” Lynch said.

MassageEnvy.com.

 

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.