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SEARCHFor 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 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.. Here are the 2016 finalists.
For six years running, MODERN SALON Media has worked with the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) to develop MODERN SALON’sExcellence in Educationprogram. 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
Individuallocations:
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
Ogle School: Hair, Skin, Nails, Stafford, TX
Michigan Barber School, Detroit
Paul Mitchell the School Chicago
Multi-unit schools (complete organization):
Douglas J. Aveda Institute, East Lansing, MI
MC College, Edmonton, AB
Capri College, Dubuque, IA
Phagans Cosmetology Colleges, Bend, OR
FACILITIES
Individuallocations:
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):
Keune Academy by 124, Lawrenceville, GA
Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA
MARKETING INNOVATION
Individuallocations:
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
Paul Mitchell the School San Diego
Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT
Multi-unit schools (complete organization):
Ogle School, Arlington, TX
NEXT LEVEL: ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Individuallocations:
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
Paul Mitchell the School Pasadena, Pasadena, CA
Multi-unit schools (complete organization):
PLACEMENT
Individuallocations:
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):
The Studio Academy of Beauty, Chandler, AZ
SCHOOL CULTURE
Individuallocations:
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
Aveda Institute Orlando, Winter Park, FL
Taylor Andrews, West Jordan, UT
Multi-unit schools (complete organization):
Aveda Institute Birmingham, Hoover, AL
Capri College, Dubuque, IA
Toni&Guy Hairdressing Academy, Costa Mesa, CA
TECHNOLOGY
Individuallocations:
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
Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT
Michigan Barber School, Detroit
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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