Gabriel Bernal, Mia “Solstice” Waltemate and N’Dia Gruning, winners of the Spring 2022 L’Oréal Professionnel Cosmetic Grants.
Photo: Beauty changes lives
L’Oréal Professionnel has partnered with Beauty Changes Lives to award three scholarships for students admitted or currently enrolled in a beauty program. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 tuition award for their education. The first bursary will be awarded to an eligible student admitted to an Elevate Salon Institution recognized by L’Oréal Professionnel with excellence in education.
The $5,000 Inspiration Through Education grant is awarded to a cosmetology student who will teach the importance of education now and throughout her future career. The Empowering Diversity Scholarship is dedicated to the memory of Sheena Coleman, a much loved member of the L’Oréal Professionnel Education Team who sadly passed away in 2020 and demonstrates a commitment to equity, equity and diversity.
In addition, each winner is eligible to be enrolled in a mentoring/coaching program designed for cosmetology students during their school years and for a year after graduation. Meet the winners and their respective schools below:
Beauty Changes Lives and L’Oréal Professionnel Spring 2022 grantees
Photo: Beauty changes lives
L’Oréal Professionnel Elevate Salon Institute – $5,000 grant
Gabriel Bernal @Antoni.Hair Elevate Salon Institute – Miami Beach, FL
“Making people feel beautiful and bringing out their best self is the main reason I chose beauty as my profession.”
“Gabe is a great stylist, he’s brilliant at what he does,” beamed Erika Welch, one of his instructors at the Elevate Salon Institute in Miami Beach, Florida.
Photo: Beauty changes lives
L’Oréal Professionnel Inspiration Through Education – $5,000 grant
Mia “Solstice” Waltemate @solstice_sparkles Paul Mitchell the School – St. Louis, MO
Mia “Solstice” Waltemate is passionate about the fact that education is essential to being a successful esthetician. She notes that she learned important skills at school and still has so much to learn. Her ultimate dream is to own her own salon where she can create an environment where guests feel welcome, can relax and let stylists take care of them.
Photo: Beauty changes lives
L’Oréal Professionnel Empowering Diversity – $5,000 grant
N’Dia Gruning @thats_dia Paul Mitchell the School – Dallas, TX
After high school, N’Dia decided to take a gap year to find her passion and chart a direction for her future. That year, she focused on finding a career path that would bring her the most joy. Ever since she was little, she loved to do her nails. This passion, which started as a hobby, became the catalyst for her future dream job. She decided to get in and enrolled in a cosmetology program so she could learn all about hair, skin, and nails. N’Dia’s goal is to break beauty standards and show others that with hard work and effort, they can achieve their dreams.
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