Announcing the 2016 Excellence in Education Finalists

For six years running, MODERN SALON Media has worked with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) to develop MODERN SALON’s Excellence in Education program. The purpose is to help the professional beauty school community gather, share and celebrate examples of great salon education experiences and beauty career development happening across the country.

In 2016, the crop of cosmetology schools entering the program brought plenty of benchmarks, measurable results and innovation into their application process.

“School pride and powerful results were very evident this year,” says MODERN SALON Editorial Director Michele Musgrove. “We are so impressed with the variety of top schools in the U.S. that entered MODERN SALON’s 2016 Excellence in Education program. We have chosen a select few that we believe show leadership and best practices that other schools can use to learn and grow.”

Finalists were determined based on key criteria in each category and grouped according to school size or whether or not they entered as a multi-unit school or single location.

Schools could enter one or more of seven categories:

  • Community Involvement
  • Facilities
  • Marketing Innovation
  • Next Level: Alumni Programs
  • Placement
  • School Culture
  • Technology

Two top honorees will be recognized in each category—one individual school location and a multi-location school organization—and announced Saturday, November 5, 2016, at the AACS Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida.

“On behalf of the entire professional beauty industry, we express gratitude that there are so many professional cosmetology schools continuing to do amazing and valuable work to shape the future of beauty," says MODERN SALON Publisher Steve Reiss. "The purpose of Excellence in Education is to make sure more of these great schools get the attention they deserve.”

2016 Excellence in Education finalists in each category are listed below:

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO
  • The Salon Professional Academy, Appleton, WI
  • The Salon Professional Academy, Fargo, ND
  • State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
  • Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL
  • DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA
  • Toni&Guy, Albuquerque, NM

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

 

FACILITIES

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design, Greenville, NC
  • The Salon Professional Academy, Altoona, PA
  • Pure Aesthetics, Tucson, AZ

76-125 students

  • Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN
  • Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL
  • Blake Austin College/Beauty Academy, Vacaville, CA
  • Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, OH

More than 126 students

  • The Beauty Institute/Schwarzkopf Professional, Philadelphia
  • Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA
  • Northwest College School of Beauty, Tualatin, OR

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

 

MARKETING INNOVATION

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • The Salon Professional Academy, Georgetown, TX
  • Pure Aesthetics, Tucson, AZ

76-125 students

  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
  • Summit Salon Academy, Tampa, FL
  • DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA
  • Blake Austin College/Beauty Academy, Vacaville, CA
  • Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

 

NEXT LEVEL: ALUMNI PROGRAMS

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

  • Aveda Institute Des Moines, Des Moines, IA
  • Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York
  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

 

PLACEMENT

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO

76-125 students

  • Stewart School, Sioux Falls, SD
  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
  • Crave Beauty Academy, Wichita, KS
  • Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

 

SCHOOL CULTURE

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

76-125 students

  • Aveda Institute Madison, Madison, WI
  • Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN
  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
  • DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA
  • The Salon Professional Academy, Evansville, IN
  • Toni&Guy Albuquerque, Alburquerque, NM

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

TECHNOLOGY

Individual locations:

Fewer than 75 students

  • Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO
  • State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

76-125 students

  • Avenue Five Institute, Austin, TX
  • Crave Beauty Academy, Wichita, KS

More than 126 students

Multi-unit schools (complete organization):

  • MC College, Edmonton, AB
  • Paul Mitchell the School Dallas, Carrolton, TX
  • Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA

 

 

 

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