The Cosmetology Academy Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary
Happy 10-Year Anniversary! The Cosmetology Academy at Douglas Education Center (DEC) hosted a special celebratory day to mark its 10-year anniversary.
DEC hosted a range of activities and events to mark the occassion, drawing together its family of cosmetology students, graduates, faculty, staff and community friends. “We’re so incredibly proud to reach this milestone,” said Karen Nelson, Director of Cosmetology. “At the heart of The Cosmetology Academy is the belief that there are no limits to what our students can achieve.”
The 10-Year Celebration began with the 3rd Annual Dare to Express Hair Cutting and Nail Art Competitions.
Eleven teams, composed of 22 students from around the region, participated in the Dare to Express Nail Art Competition. The Dare to Express Hair Cutting Competition was comprised of 15 competitors. Six schools participated in both competition categories, including A.W. Beattie Career Center, Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, Western Area Career & Technology Center, Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center, Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School, and Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center.
“We are so excited to be able to provide the local high schools and technology centers with the Dare to Express Competitions,” said Nelson. “We want to inspire the talent and motivation necessary to succeed in the cosmetology industry, as well as provide an environment that works as a confidence booster for students.”
Dare to Express Haircutting and Nail Art Competition Winners Pose with Competition Judges
The 2013 Dare to Express Hair Cutting and Nail Art Competition winners were as follows:
Dare to Express Nail Art Competition: 1st – Summer McCurdy and Casey DiPerna (Model) of Central Westmoreland Career & Technology Center; 2nd – Julia Sells and Lauren Brinsky (Model) of Steel Center AVTS; 3rd – Abby Fountain and Amber Mueller (Model) of Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.
Dare to Express Hair Cutting Competition:
1st – Rachel Heckathorne of Western Area Career & Technology Center; 2nd – Tommie Lewis of Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center; 3rd – Brittney Guerriero of A.W. Beattie Career Center.
Immediately following the Dare to Express Competitions, DEC honored The Cosmetology Academy with a special celebration. CEO / President, Jeffrey Imbrescia, presented the six-member cosmetology team with a ‘Making the Difference’ award. The event also included a special message from DEC Advisory Board Member and 2013 Pittsburgh Fashion Hall of Fame Inductee, Marianne Skiba. Students from The Factory Digital Filmmaking Program at Douglas topped off the afternoon by screening a special documentary that included interviews with graduates, faculty and staff, and an inside look at The Cosmetology Academy through the years. View the documentary here.
Over the past 10 years, The Cosmetology Academy has enriched the lives of many. “We continue to strive to fulfill the students’ dreams of completing their cosmetology program of choice and improving their lives,” said Nelson. “We look forward to the next 10 years.”
