Through the generosity of Wella’s Hairdressers at Heart philanthropic initiative, the Beauty Changes LivesFoundation is awarding 20 Fall 2016 Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Education scholarships. The scholarship honors the legacy of hairstyling icon Vidal Sassoon, and is designed to advance the careers of 20 students and licensed beauty professionals.

Ten beauty school students from across the United States were selected to receive “Basic” scholarships that cover 50 percent of cosmetology school tuition up to $10,000. Additionally, 10 licensed hairstylists will expand their skills through the gift of an “Advanced” scholarship that includes continuing education at a North American Sassoon Academy, including travel and course fees up to $5,000.

“We are incredibly honored that Wella is demonstrating its support of lifelong learning by generously supporting Next Gen professionals with the gift of education,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. “The Basic and Advanced scholarships reflect the importance of education across a hairstylists career journey – something that Vidal Sassoon modeled throughout his career.”

Since the Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Education Scholarship launched in 2013, 180 scholarships have been awarded to aspiring and licensed hairstylists. Generously funded by Wella and its Hairdressers at Heart initiative, the program is administered by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation, a 501c3 that seeks to elevate, educate and empower the next generation of beauty professionals.

Sal Mauceri, Senior Vice President of North America Professional Beauty and Global Nail at Coty Beauty  said the selected student and professional winners embody the passion, creativity and drive that sets the very best hairdressers apart.

“Wella and Hairdressers at Heart know the power of education, and we are proud to help these 20 outstanding individuals move forward in their career journey,” said Mauceri. “Education is changing lives and encouraging students and professionals to reach their highest potential.”

Scholarship winners are selected by a panel of award-winning hairstylists, platform artists and educators. Each applicant is assigned a composite score that incorporates applicants’ essays, inspiration boards and online videos. While professionalism and technical details are important in scoring, judges focus on each applicant’s passion for the industry and vision for how their career in beauty will change lives.

Fall 2016 winners of the “Basic” Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Education Program and their respective schools include:

Basic Winner

Beauty School

City, State

Katybeth Clarke

Shears Cosmetology School

Carlisle, PA

Heather Ferrante

Blake Austin College Beauty Academy

Vacaville, CA

Amanda Flanagan

Penrose Academy

Scottsdale, AZ

Kamilah Gerestant

Hair Design Institute

Brooklyn, NY

Cameron Kepford

La’James International College

Davenport, IA

Roniann Mears

Arrojo Cosmetology School

New York, NY

Brittany Pearce

Paul Mitchell The School – Jacksonville

Jacksonville, FL

Emily Peterson

Montana Academy of Salons

Great Falls, MT

Nadezhda Shuparskay

Gene Juarez Academy, South Campus

Seattle, WA

Sarah Tupper

Arrojo Cosmetology School

New York, NY

Fall 2016 winners of the “Advanced” Vidal Sassoon Professional Beauty Education Program and their employers include:

Advanced Winner

City State

Beauty School

Christopher Blackmer

Caldwell, ID

Razzle Dazzle College of Hair Design

Bridget Clancy

Portland Oregon,

Sassoon Academy, Santa Monica

Kelsie Daily

Menifee, CA

Paul Mitchell The School, Temecula

Adrian de la Parra

San Diego, CA

Bellus Academy

Elizabeth De Luz

Austin, TX

Crave Beauty School

Evan Erickson

Dallas, TX

Taylor Andrews

Karina Gonzalez

Harrisburg, PA

Empire Beauty School

Vilsen Restrepo

Paterson, NJ

Mariela Beauty School

Kaya Ruffino

Cedar Hill, TX

Aveda Institute (Dallas)

Kimberly Sousa

Swansea, MA

Paul Mitchell the School – Rhode Island

 A sampling of winners’ inspiration boards and videos is available at  http://beautychangeslives.org/scholarships/.  

About the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation:About the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation  With a mission to elevate, educate and empower, Beauty Changes Lives is uniting the industry and building awareness of the extraordinary career opportunities in the beauty, wellness and massage therapy industries. Learn more at www.beautychangeslives.org or find us on Facebook. 

About Hairdressers At Heart: Stylists are committed to being the best, perfecting their craft with every cut. Wella is here to advance the salon industry, one stylist at a time. Hairdressers At Heart is a program created to help stylists develop their talents throughout their career. Our goal is to be a vital partner to salons, empowering individual stylists and our entire industry. For more: http://www.hairdressersatheart.com/

To learn more about Sassoon Academy, visit www.sassoon.com