10 students enrolled in professional nail education programs have been awarded Fall 2015 BCL | CND | Tippi Hedren Nail Scholarships.

Honoring the legacy of nail industry pioneer Tippi Hedren and funded by CND, the scholarship award includes up to $5,000 in tuition assistance to students enrolled in a professional nail education program at an American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) member school.

Launched in 2014, the BCL | CND | Tippi Hedren Scholarship is administered by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation and features a spring and fall competition.

Winners, their respective scholarship schools and inspiration boards are as follows:

Alina Cardenas, Bellus Academy, National City, CA

Amy Brekoski, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH

Asia Owens, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH 

Chaunet Miranda, Casal Aveda Institute – Youngstown, OH

Dora Torres, Beauty Anatomy Institute of Cosmetology, Pompano Beach, FL

Makenzie Walters, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH

Nicholene Bowers, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers, Casselberry, FL

Patty Broglia, Paul Mitchell the School – Boise, ID 

Roxana Tanase, Marinello Schools of Beauty, Chico, CA

Tyra Baird, Northwest College, Clackamas, OR

Applicants submitted a combination of essays and inspiration boards expressing how a career in nail design will make a difference in their lives and the lives of those they serve. Winners’ inspiration board images showcased a diversity of passions, ranging from shoes and super heroes to friendship, art and family. “People see my passion for nail design in my work, hear it in my voice, and feel my energy while I am performing a nail art service,” said Amy Brekoski, who aspires to own a cruelty free, vegan nail salon.  

Bellus Academy student Alina Cardenas designed a graphic attributing a word to each letter in “nail tech”: Nailtech, Artist, Inspirer, Listener, Therapist, Earner, Counselor, and Hard worker.

“The professional nail industry is all about helping others and welcoming new professionals into the industry. One of this year’s winners immigrated to America from Bucharest, Romania, and has found an amazing career path, similar to the experience many refugees found decades ago when Tippi Hedren helped Vietnamese refugees find new homes,” said Lynelle Lynch,president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation.

From a business perspective, Jan Arnold, CND co-founder and style director, said the fashion industry continues to present demand for nail professionals. “Working behind the scenes at Fashion Week season after season, it is heartening to see how designers turn to nail design as an integral component of their collections on the runway. This is an incredibly versatile and rewarding industry and it’s a very exciting time to become a Nail Professional,” Arnold said.