MODERN SALON Media and Editorial Director Michele Musgrove recently announced the 2012 “Excellence in Education” honorees and top honorees in its annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools.

At the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) annual convention in Orlando on October 28th, MODERN SALON Publisher Steve Reiss presented the list of honorees in each class and announced the Overall Honorees for each category during a special presentation.

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 separate classifications based on school size and whether entering as single location or a complete multi-school organization. Overall honorees were chosen in each category from a list of previously named list of finalists.

“There are many quality schools doing inspiring things to ensure a vibrant future for the professional beauty industry,” said 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” 2012 Overall Top Honorees are:

MARKETING
Single Location (tie):
• Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton, AB
• Aveda Institute Des Moines, Des Moines, IA

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL

TECHNOLOGY
Single Location:
• International Salon and Spa Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

PLACEMENT
Single Location:
• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Ogle School of Hair, Skin, Nails, Arlington, TX

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Single Location (tie):
• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL

BEAUTY CHANGES LIVES
Single Location:
• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

FACILITIES
Single Location:
• Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

SCHOOL CULTURE
Single Location:
• Gary Manuel Aveda Institute, Seattle, WA
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA

ADVANCED EDUCATION & ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Single Location:
• Paul Mitchell the School Chicago, Chicago, IL
Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• La James International College, Fort Dodge, IA

MODERN SALON 2012 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION HONOREES (complete list) 

MARKETING (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
• Aveda Institute Des Moines, West Des Moines, IA
• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
• Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• The Temple, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR
• Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA
• Aveda Institute Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
• State College of Beauty Culture, Inc., Wausau, WI
• GUTI The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy, Bradenton, FL
• Paul Mitchell the School Arlington, Arlington, TX
• Paul Mitchell the School Woodbridge, Woodbridge, VA

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT
• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL
• Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA
• Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, Philadelphia, PA

TECHNOLOGY (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• International Salon and Spa Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
• Paul Mitchell The School Esani, Roswell, GA
• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• The Temple, A Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD
• Paul Mitchell The School Houston, Houston, TX

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• The Salon Professional Academy, The Villages, FL
• Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR
• Xenon International, Aurora, CO

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• State College of Beauty Culture, Inc., Wausau, WI
• Remington College-Nashville, Nashville, TN
• Paul Mitchell the School Arlington, Arlington, TX
• Xenon International Academy IV, Olathe, KS

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Bellus Academy, Poway CA
• Aveda Inspire Greatness Institutes, Tucson, AZ
• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture, Oak Brook, IL
• Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, Philadelphia, PA

PLACEMENT (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
• Gary Manuel Aveda Institute, Seattle, WA
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• Paul Mitchell the School Tysons Corner, Mclean, VA
• Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology, Kennewick, WA

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• State College of Beauty Culture, Inc., Wausau, WI
• Xenon International Academy IV, Olathe, KS
• GUTI The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy, Bradenton, FL

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Ogle School of Hair, Skin, Nails, Arlington, TX
• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA
• Xenon International Academy, Wichita, KS

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Eric Fisher Academy, Wichita, KS
• Penrose Academy, Scottsdale, AZ
• Gary Manuel Aveda Institute, Seattle, WA
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• The Temple, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD
• Paul Mitchell the School Tysons Corner, Mclean, VA

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Victoria's Academy of Cosmetology, Kennewick, WA
• The Salon Professional Academy, Evansville, IN
• The Salon Professional Academy, Fargo, ND
• Empire Beauty School, Morrow, GA

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• New England School of Hair Design, West Lebanon, NH
• Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
• Xenon International Academy IV, Olathe, KS

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL
• Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA
• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA

BEAUTY CHANGES LIVES (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Galena Interior Learning Academy, Galena, AK
• Cameo College of Essential Beauty, Murray, UT

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
• Aveda Institute of Rhode Island, Cranston, RI
• Xenon International Academy IV, Olathe, KS

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
• Manhattan Hairstyling Academy, Tampa, FL
• Pivot Point Academy, Evanston, IL
• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT

FACILITIES (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• The Institute of Beauty and Wellness, Milwaukee, WI
• Aveda Institute Des Moines, West Des Moines, IA
• Eveline Charles Academy, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
• Paul Mitchell the School Tysons Corner, Mclean, VA

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Federico Beauty Institute, Sacramento, CA
• Oxford Academy of Hair Design, Seymour, CT
• Aveda Fredric's Institute, West Chester, OH

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
• GUTI The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy, Bradenton, FL

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT
• Aveda Institutes Texas, San Antonio, TX
• Xenon International Academy, Wichita, KS

SCHOOL CULTURE (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Gary Manuel Aveda Institute, Seattle, WA
• Paul Mitchell the School Esani, Roswell, GA
• Paul Mitchell the School Tysons Corner, Mclean, VA
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
• The Temple a Paul Mitchell Partner School, Frederick, MD

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR
• DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, West Springfield, MA
• The Salon Professional Academy, The Villages, FL
• Aveda Fredric's Institute, West Chester, OH
• The Salon Professional Academy, Perrysburg, OH

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
• Xenon International Academy IV, Olathe, KS
• Remington College-Nashville, Nashville, TN
• Paul Mitchell the School Arlington, Arlington, TX

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• Paul Mitchell Schools, Sandy, UT
• Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA
• Evergreen Beauty College, Everett, WA

ADVANCED EDUCATION & ALUMNI PROGRAMS (all honorees)

Single Location, 126 or more students:
• Aveda Institute Portland, Portland, OR
• Paul Mitchell the School Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Graham Webb Academy, Arlington, VA
• Cinta Aveda Institute, San Francisco, CA
• Paul Mitchell the School San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Single Location, 76-125 students:
• Beau Monde College of Hair Design, Portland, OR

Single Location School, 75 or less students:
• Arrojo Cosmetology School, New York, NY
• Hair Arts Academy, Bloomington, IN
• State College of Beauty Culture, Inc., Wausau, WI
• GUTI The Premier Beauty & Wellness Academy, Bradenton, FL

Multi-Unit School, complete organization:
• La James International College, Fort Dodge, IA
• Bellus Academy, Poway, CA
• Empire Education Group, Pottsville, PA

FAST FACTS

The program is presented by MODERN SALON Media with the support of the
American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS)

Eligibility:  All U.S. schools with students attending since January 1, 2011
or earlier are eligible to enter.  

Honoree categories: Schools may enter one or multiple categories.  
• School Culture
• Community Involvement
• Facilities
• Alumni & Advanced Education Programs
• Placement  
• Use of Technology
• Marketing Innovation
• "Beauty Changes Lives"— Industry Leadership

School classifications:  Each honoree category will recognize four finalists, each representing a different school size.
Schools that are part of a chain may enter as EITHER individual locations OR as a “multi-unit” school.  

Honorees: The honorees are chosen in each category based on preliminary evaluation of all applications.
Top honorees participate in an interview and provide additional information and references to complete the application process.

Entry fee: There is a one-time (non-refundable) $85 processing fee per individual location entry.

Click below for past honorees!

2011 Excellence in Education Honorees

2010 Excellence in Education Honorees