Three area high school students are already able to accept clients in salons after completing their required state certification hours three months before graduating from Capital Region BOCES.
Emmalina Coluccio, Airelyss Rosado and Maya Wright will graduate from the Cosmetology program and their respective high schools in June but completed by April 1 the 1,000 hours of training and internship required to receive their temporary cosmetology licenses.
“These students have gone above and beyond to complete their hours and have truly dedicated themselves to their learning and careers,” said teacher Nicole Wentraub.
Coluccio and Rosado attend the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Albany Campus—Coluccio from Shaker High School and Rosado from Mohonasen. Wright attends the CTE Schoharie Campus from Duanesburg.
The trio is among nearly 200 students currently enrolled in the Cosmetology program on the Albany and Schoharie CTE campuses. During the course of two years, Cosmetology students gain the skills and 1,000 hours of training and experience needed to take the New York state licensure exam. The experience prepares students to enter the workforce upon graduation or to go to college and have a leg up on future business competitors.
All three will take the certification exam for the permanent licenses after the school year concludes. In the meantime, they are able to take clients in area salons.
“I am super excited. I have been waiting to take clients my whole life, as this is my dream,” said Coluccio, who works at Sincere Salon & Lounge.
“I am really excited to open my books [take clients]. I have worked hard doing my work-based learning and by staying all day for clients on Fridays at BOCES,” said Wright, who works at Grit & Grace Salon.
Rosado—who currently is not working in a salon, but did her work-based learning at Hair & Beauty Bar by Christine Marie—echoed those sentiments.
“I’m excited to start taking clients. I have the most fun when doing hair,” she said. “It feels great to know that anytime I want that I can go work in a salon and take clients.”’
The cosmetologists said BOCES has opened many doors for them and allowed them to pursue their dreams.
“[Cosmetology] is a great program. It’s hard, but it’s worth it in the end,” Wright said.
Rosado said, “The hands-on work we do, like putting highlights in a wig to make it look pretty, really allows you to learn.”
Their teachers praised their commitment to the trade.
“Maya has been an outstanding student for the last two years. One of the reasons she completed her hours first is due to her impressive marketing skills,” said Wright’s teacher, Alexis Hicks.