Every year, MODERN SALON Media pays tribute to great work being done by leading cosmetology schools via its Excellence in Education recognition program. Hundreds of applications are submitted by individual and multi-unit schools across the country, and for 2015, 38 schools were named honorees in eight categories ranging from Community Service to Placement to Technology.

MODERN SALON Media Vice President/Group Publisher Steve Reiss announced the2015 Excellence in Education top honorees on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the AACS Annual Convention & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Excellence in Education was created in conjunction with a partnership between Modern Salon Media and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS); the program helps the school community collect and share examples of great work being done across the country.

Two top honorees—one individual school location, and a multi-location school organization—were recognized in each of the eight categories.

In the Placement category, we turn an eye at how schools prepare their students for the next step: a career. Schools are standing by their students every step of the way when it comes to placing them in the perfect position after graduation. 

The top Facilities honorees this year are Bella Capelli Academy in Pittsburgh, PA, for individual locations; and Evergreen Beauty College in Everett, WA, for multi-unit schools. However, all of the 2015 honorees had inspiring ideas to share.

During their time at school, students will be prepped on how to interview professionally with professional development classes that cover everything from resume-writing to how to dress. With their interviewing skills perfected, a polished resume and great skill set, students are then introduced to prospective employers at interactive career fairs that feature Q&A sessions, an opportunity for students to showcase their own work and powerful guest speakers.

Salon tours, internship and externship opportunities, social media campaigns, and special events also give students opportunities to network and connect. And if they still haven’t found a job by graduation, grads can simply talk to the admissions director, who will guide them to the perfect position. 

Here are a few ways the Placement top honorees are securing their students' futures:

(Pictured below: A student from Bella Capelli Academy in Pittsburgh, PA.)

Placement in individual locations

• Exit interviews at Crave Beauty Academy, Ballwin, MO: The Academy director meets with every student and an exit interview is performed. If student doesn’t have a position yet, the entire Crave team is notified, and they work to find a position.

• Staying in touch at State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI: The admissions director actively stops into salons to let them know what’s happening at SCBC, and the school also keeps in touch with graduates via Facebook.

• Job board at Aveda Institute Nashville, Franklin, TN: An up-to-date job board is in the break room, and an alumni page on Facebook offers opportunities for more experience individuals.

• Lunch-and-learns and salon visits at Bella Capelli Academy, Pittsburgh, PA: Professionals come in to speak to students about opportunities available to them. Students also have the opportunity to visit local salons and make connections.

• Career preparation classes at Crave Beauty Academy, Wichita, KS: Include mock interviews, resume critique, externship opportunities, job postings and online curriculum with Nuts & Bolts.

• Professional classes and seminar at Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA: Professional development classes are built into curriculum, and a career-planning seminar called Invitation to Your Future offers practical knowledge and tips. 

• Placement advisor at Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT: Reaches out to soon-to-be-graduating students to find out what they are looking for in their career, then they target area salons and reach out on their behalf.

• Extra help at Aveda Institute of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL: Students receive resume writing assistance, help portfolio building, and in-house education from area owners.

A student gift from Evergreen Beauty College in Everett, WA.

Placement in multi-unit schools

• Northwest Salon and Spa Industry Exchange at Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA: The school hosted the first ever exchanges this spring with more than 40 salons and spas in attendance to discuss the industry, and changes for employment in the industry. Students met these industry leaders for networking opportunities afterwards. The school also helped Nuts&Bolts Business Training launch NabLink, an online placement program.

• Professional development at Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT: This program has activities for students to explore career options and market themselves.

• Social media at Nurtur Aveda Institutes, Columbus, OH: The Institutes use social media platforms to keep in touch with alumni and created a proprietary system called Studenttrakr to locate lost graduates. The result—placing more than 78 percent of graduates for 2013 and tracking to exceed that in 2014 by more than 10 percent.

• Beautycareer.com at Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA: This multi-functional website allows Empire students and alumni to create resumes and portfolios, connect with local employers and search/apply for jobs. The site is mobile-friendly.

To view the entire list of finalists, click here.