MODERN SALON Media and Editorial Director Michele Musgrove are proud to announce the 2011 “Excellence in Education” top honorees and honorees in its annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools.

MODERN SALON Publisher Steve Reiss and First Chair Editor Alison Shipley announced the top honorees in each class and the Top Honoree for each category during a special presentation at the AACS (American Association of Cosmetology Schools) annual convention in Phoenix Saturday, November 5th.

Hundreds of entries were submitted from cosmetology schools from across North America, in eight categories ranging from marketing to placement to school culture. Honorees were determined in four classes based on school size or number of locations. One Top Honoree from all applicants has been named for each category: Marketing--Eveline Charles Academy; Technology--GUTI "The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy"; Facilities--Aveda Institute Portland; Culture--Eric Fisher Academy; Placement--Bellus Academy; The Next Level, Advanced Education/Alumni Programs--Empire Education Group; Beauty Changes Lives/Leadership: Pivot Point Academy; and Community: Paul Mitchell Schools.

“There are many quality schools doing inspiring things to ensure a vibrant future for the professional beauty industry,” said MODERN SALON Media Editorial Director Michele Musgrove.  “We will proudly share their stories, accomplishments and best practices in our magazines, web sites and e-letters.”

MODERN SALON’s “Excellence in Education” 2011 honorees are:

CATEGORY: MARKETING

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
•    The Cosmetology Academy at Douglas Education Center, Monessen, PA
•    State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL
•    Aveda Institute New Orleans, Metairie, LA

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton, AB, Canada
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
•    Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT

Multi-unit:
•    Aveda Institutes/Beauty Basics, Covington, LA
•    Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
•    Paul Mitchell Schools, Costa Mesa, CA

OVERALL HONOREE: Eveline Charles Academy

CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI
•    Remington College, Nashville, TN
•    The Cosmetology Academy at Douglas Education Center, Monessen, PA

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL
•    Xenon International Academy, Wichita, KS

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
•    Kohler Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
•    Paul Mitchell the School – Dallas, Carrollton, TX

Multi-unit:
•    Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
•    Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL
•    Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA

OVERALL HONOREE: GUTI "The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy"

CATEGORY: FACILITIES

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    Altoona Beauty School, Altoona, PA

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL
•    Victoria’s Academy, Kennewick, WA

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Aveda Institute Portland, Portland, OR
•    Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton AB Canada
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

Multi-unit:
•    Paul Mitchell Schools, Costa Mesa, CA
•    Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
•    Creative Images Institute of Cosmetology, Dayton, OH

OVERALL HONOREE: Aveda Institute Portland

CATEGORY: CULTURE

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    The Cosmetology Academy at Douglas Education Center, Monessen, PA
•    Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
•    Remington College, Nashville, TN

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
•    Stewart School, Sioux Falls, SD
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Empire Beauty School, New York, NY
•    Paul Mitchell the School – Dallas, Carrollton, TX
•    Paul Mitchell the School – Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA

Multi-unit:
•    Paul Mitchell Schools, Costa Mesa, CA
•    Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA
•    Capri College, Dubuque, IA

OVERALL HONOREE:Eric Fisher Academy

CATEGORY: PLACEMENT

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI
•    Evergreen Beauty College, Bellevue, WA

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    Stewart School, Sioux Falls, SD
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL
•    Xenon International Academy, Wichita, KS

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Paul Mitchell Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
•    Paul Mitchell the School – Dallas, Carrollton, TX

Multi-unit:
•    Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
•    Aveda Frederic’s Institute, Cincinnati, OH
•    Capri College, Dubuque, IA

OVERALL HONOREE: Bellus Academy

CATEGORY: The Next Level, Advanced Education/Alumni Programs

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
•    Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
•    State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy, Bradenton, FL

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
•    Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA
•    Graham Webb Academy, Arlington, VA

Multi-unit:
•    Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA
•    Paul Mitchell Schools, Costa Mesa, CA
•    Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL

OVERALL HONOREE: Empire Education Group

CATEGORY:  “Beauty Changes Lives/Leadership”

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    Altoona Beauty School, Altoona, PA
•    The Cosmetology Academy at Douglas Education Center, Monessen, PA
•    Remington College, Nashville TN

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
•    Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR
•    Aveda Institute New Orleans, Metairie, LA

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
•    Paul Mitchell the School-Dallas, Carrollton, TX
•    Advance Beauty College, Garden Grove, CA

Multi-unit:
•    Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL
•    Phagan's Cosmetology Colleges, Bend, OR
•    Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

OVERALL HONOREE: Pivot Point Academy

CATEGORY: COMMUNITY

Single Location Less than 75 students:
•    New England School of Hair Design, West Lebanon, NH
•    State College of Beauty Culture, Wausau, WI

Single Location 75-125 students:
•    The Studio Academy of Beauty, Chandler, AZ
•    GUTI “The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy”, Bradenton, FL
•    Lytle’s Redwood Empire Beauty College, Santa Rosa, CA

Single Location 126+ students:
•    Kohler Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
•    Aveda Institute of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
•    Clary Sage College, Tulsa, OK

Multi-unit:
•    Paul Mitchell Schools, Costa Mesa, CA
•    Capri College, Dubuque, IA

OVERALL HONOREE: Paul Mitchell Schools

Recognizing excellence and sharing stories of innovation, inspiration and collaboration from every stage of the professional beauty industry life cycle is an important part of MODERN SALON Media’s ongoing mission.

 “Through Excellence in Education, all types of cosmetology schools—small, large and multi-unit—are represented,” Musgrove explains. “We hope the professional salon industry will join us in celebrating them, and that these schools will use this honor to celebrate themselves.  We encourage all schools and their students to post videos about what `excellence in education’ means to them on our new MODERN SALON YouShare video site.”  Visit modernsalon.tv/YouShare for details.

Deadlines and application details for MODERN SALON’s 2012 Excellence in Education program will be posted online at modernsalon.com. For information, email Joyce Alverio (jalverio@vancepublishing.com).