For the City Times

Cosmetology students enjoy rare opportunity to work with Brava Elite platform artists

Sunday, March 12, was a great hair day for the Mid-State Technical College Cosmetology program as they hosted the Flash Back Hair Show on the Wisconsin Rapids campus.

The College’s first-ever themed hair show, the event drew 178 industry professionals and talented students together to explore the latest industry trends in hair. Attendees decked out in their best 70s-themed threads to pay homage to Mid-State’s Cosmetology program, founded in 1978.

Brava Elite team member Joe Szozda demonstrates on stage at Mid-State’s Flash Back Hair Show, March 12, on the College’s Wisconsin Rapids campus. (Photo: Mid-State)

Headlining the event was globally recognized stylist, salon owner, and platform artist Jesse Marcks (Au Fait Salon in Madison) and the Brava Elite Education Team. They worked alongside the students of the Cosmetology program to present coming trends and techniques in hair color, cuts, and style.

Students were able to model their unique styles and retro-yet-modern work with top of the line products on the catwalk beneath the disco lights.

“This was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to work with these talented guest artists that get to travel around the world, teaching what they love to do.” said cosmetology student Brittany Lawrence.

Participating students were actively involved with all parts of the show, from set up to rehearsal, model prep to modeling. Following the hair show, students, and industry professionals were able to network at the event’s reception while eating delicious hors’doeuvres from Great Expectations and discussing the latest style trends.

“It was an amazing experience to see our industry, the community, and Mid-State come together for these students,” said Jim Marcks, salon owner and director of Brava Elite Education. “Brava Salon Specialists are honored to have been a part of it.”

“The Flash Back Hair Show was a great success, and we are looking forward to making the hair show an annual event” said Missy Skurzewski-Servant, dean of the School of Business & Technology at Mid-State. “We are grateful to Jim Marcks of Brava Salon Specialists and our partners at Reference of Sweden for helping us organize and produce this event.” She added, “It is partnerships like this that directly impact student success and demonstrate the strong industry connections and business support enjoyed by Mid-State programs.”

Mid-State’s Cosmetology program features instructors with real-world experience and provides its students with the theory and hands-on practice needed for a successful career in cosmetology. New students of the Cosmetology program are faced with the financial burden of buying their kits, which cost roughly $1,700. The hair show raised $1,000 to fund scholarships to help new students purchase their kits.

For more information about Mid-State’s Cosmetology program, visit www.mstc.edu/programs/cosmetology.