Only a year old, the Cosmetology class at Franklin County Career Tech has already acheived great success.
The students competed at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Muscle Shoals this past month against high schools from northwest Alabama and southern Tennessee in the categories of fantasy makeup, nail design, women’s hair cutting and men’s hair cutting. Franklin County students brought home five scholarships to NW-SCC.
The winner of the fantasy makeup was Red Bay senior Megan Lafnear, who created the Old Peddler Woman from Snow White modeled by classmate, Tabitha Seal, a junior from Belgreen High School.
Lafnear was given the Snow White theme by the judges and had to pick her own character to recreate.
“I chose my character because it was more difficult to create, especially with the colors I had to work with,” said Lafnear, who also earned a full scholarship to NW-SCC in addition to the one from the competition.
Seal enjoyed playing the model for Lafnear and turning into another character.
“It was really cool to be a model,” said Seal. “Maybe one day someone will be my model for the competition.”
Another student, Alanis Welch, also placed first in her category, nail design. Welch's design told the story of Maleficient, the villain in "Sleepy Beauty."
“Maleficient was not always evil,” said Welch, a junior at Belgreen. “She started out good, and the world made her evil.”
Welch’s classmate, Lesly Garcia, also competed in the nail design competition and finished second. Garcia chose the story of how the caterpillar turned into the butterfly.
“I love butterflies,” said Garcia, a junior at Tharptown High School. “I was really happy that I placed second.”
The group also took home first place in women’s hair cutting. Rebecca Daniel created a triangle granulation that judges enjoyed. Also, classmate Marina Black placed third in women’s hair cutting. Iris Uptain competed in the men’s hair cutting division.
“They all did a very good job,” said Sissy Scott, FCCT Cosmetology instructor. “I am very proud of them.”
Other than competing and bringing home many awards, the class has worked on different projects throughout the school year.
Last fall, the students participated in the food drive. They brought the most cans and were able to take them to the Faith Mission Outreach in downtown Russellville.
“We enjoy helping our community,” said student Blanca Oguirre. “We should all take a part in it. That is what community is about.”
This past week, the students were able to tour the Marriott Shoals Spa. They learned how the spa operated and what kinds of services it provides to its clients.
The students also open up their salon on Fridays from 12:30-2:30 p.m. to the community for hair cuts, manicures and pedicures and other salon services. For more information, please call 256-332-2147 and press “4.”
“We need more hands-on experience,” said Scott. “It gives the students an example of what it is really like in a salon.”
