Ten aspiring beauty industry professionals will receive financial awards up to $5,000 to cover tuition for nail tech programs. The 10 scholarship winners were selected in a formal application process that included submissions of essays and inspiration boards expressing how a career in nail design will make a difference in their lives and the lives of those they serve.

“The professional nail industry is all about helping others and welcoming new professionals into the industry,” said Lynelle Lynch, president of the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation. “One of this year’s winners immigrated to America from Bucharest, Romania, and has found an amazing career path, similar to the experience many refugees found decades ago when Tippi Hedren helped Vietnamese refugees find new homes.”

Jan Arnold, CND co-founder and style director, noted that the fashion industry continues to present demand for nail professionals. “Working behind the scenes at Fashion Week season after season, it is heartening to see how designers turn to nail design as an integral component of their collections on the runway,” said Arnold. “This is an incredibly versatile and rewarding industry and it’s a very exciting time to become a Nail Professional.”

Winners and their respective scholarship schools are as follows:

Roxana Tanase, Marinello Schools of Beauty, Chico, CA, Inspiration Board

Nicholene Bowers, Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers, Casselberry, FL, Inspiration Board

 Dora Torres, Beauty Anatomy Institute of Cosmetology, Pompano Beach, FL, Inspiration Board

Makenzie Walters, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH, Inspiration Board

Alina Cardenas, Bellus Academy, National City, CA, Inspiration Board

Amy Brekoski, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH, Inspiration Board

Tyra Baird, Northwest College, Clackamas, OR, Inspiration Board

Asia Owens, Casal Aveda Institute, Austintown, OH

Patty Broglia, Paul Mitchell the School – Boise, ID

Chaunet Miranda, Casal Aveda Institute – Youngstown, OH

Launched in 2014, the BCL | CND | Tippi Hedren Scholarship is administered by the Beauty Changes Lives Foundation and features a spring and fall competition. Information on Beauty Changes Lives scholarship programs is available here.

For more information about your career in nails, check out NAILS Career Handbook.

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