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L’Oréal Professionnel Awards $15,000 to Current and Future Cosmetology Students

Beauty Changes Lives and L’Oréal Professionnel announce the Spring 2022 "Inspiration Through Education" Cosmetology School Scholarship Recipients.

by Staff
July 26, 2022
L’Oréal Professionnel Awards $15,000 to Current and Future Cosmetology Students

Gabriel Bernal, Mia “Solstice” Waltemate, and N’Dia Gruning, winners of the Spring ’22 L’Oréal Professionnel cosmetology scholarships.

Photo: Beauty Changes Lives

2 min to read


L’Oréal Professionnel has partnered with Beauty Changes Lives to award three scholarships for students accepted or currently enrolled in a cosmetology program. Each recipient receives a $5,000 tuition award toward their education. The first scholarship is granted to an eligible student accepted to an Elevate Salon Institution recognized by L’Oréal Professionnel with excellence in education.

The “Inspiration Through Education” $5,000 scholarship is presented to a cosmetology student who conveys the importance of education now and throughout their future career. The “Empowering Diversity” Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Sheena Coleman, a much loved member of the L’Oréal Professionnel Education Team who sadly passed away in 2020. The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a student who identifies as a person of color and demonstrates a commitment to justice, equity, and diversity. 

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In addition, each winner is eligible to be included into a mentoring / coaching program designed for cosmetology students during their time in school and for one year post-graduation. Meet the winners and their respective schools below:

Beauty Changes Lives and L’Oréal Professionnel Spring 2022 Scholarship Recipients

Gabriel Bernal

Photo: Beauty Changes Lives

L’Oréal Professionnel Elevate Salon Institute — $5,000 Scholarship

Gabriel Bernal
@Antoni.hair
Elevate Salon Institute - Miami Beach, FL

“Making people feel beautiful and bringing out their best self is the main reason I chose beauty as my career.”

“Gabe is an amazing stylist, he is brilliant at what he does,” beamed Erika Welch, one of his instructors at the Elevate Salon Institute in Miami Beach, Florida. 


Mia “Solstice” Waltemate

Photo: Beauty Changes Lives

L’Oréal Professionnel Inspiration Through Education - $5,000 Scholarship

Mia “Solstice” Waltemate
@solstice_sparkles
Paul Mitchell the School — St. Louis, MO

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Mia “Solstice” Waltemate, is passionate that education is essential to being a successful cosmetologist. She notes that she has already gained crucial knowledge in school and still has so much left to learn. Her ultimate dream is to own her own salon where she can create an environment where guests feel welcome to relax and let stylists take care of them. 



N’Dia Gruning

Photo: Beauty Changes Lives

L’Oréal Professionnel Empowering Diversity - $5,000 Scholarship

N’Dia Gruning
@thats_dia
Paul Mitchell the School — Dallas, TX

After high school, N’Dia decided to take a gap year find her passion and set a direction for her future. During that year, she focused on finding a career path that would provide her the most happiness. Since she was young, she loved doing her nails. This passion that started as a hobby became the catalyst for her future dream job. She decided to jump in and enrolled in a cosmetology program, so she could learn all about hair, skin, and nails. N’Dia’s goal is to break beauty standards and show others that they can achieve their dreams with hard work and effort.

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.

Originally posted on Modern Salon

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