Randolph Community College Opens Cosmetology Center to the Public

The 18 students in the inaugural class of Randolph Community College's new Cosmetology program helped open the Cosmetology Center to the public on Nov. 5 by participating in a ribbon cutting attended by state and local dignitaries, RCC faculty and staff, family members, and community members.

Speakers at the 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony included Mac Sherrill, vice chair of the RCC Board of Trustees; Dr. Robert Shackleford, RCC president; Anne Hockett, vice president for instructional services; Tammy Matthews, lead instructor for the Cosmetology program; and two students.

"We've been preparing for this for about a year," said Shackleford. "This is the public opening of our new Cosmetology Center. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students that are pursuing the career of their dreams. This is also an exciting opportunity for the public. We can come in here and get haircuts at a great discount." Shackleford told the crowd not to think of the students as novices, because they had been working for several months, practicing on mannequins, each other, and family members. "These are the men and women who are going to be working at the salons that you go to in just a few months," he said.

Student Gena Trogdon told the crowd that she had wanted to do hair since she was a little girl. "I graduated high school in 1998 and intended to go to school. But I got married and had a baby and life happened," she said. She eventually became a single mom and had a good job, but was laid off. "I was looking for a job and saw an article in the paper about RCC's Cosmetology program. From there, everything just fell right into place."

Student Keione Covington said, "I believe destiny brought me here. I can't remember how long I have wanted to be a cosmetologist." After high school, Covington got a track scholarship to N.C. State, but did not finish her degree. She had children and went to work, but was let go from her job after her last pregnancy led to complications that kept her out of work too long. She was looking for another job when she heard about RCC's Cosmetology program.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, student Jennifer Gneiting gave President Shackleford the official "first haircut." Also getting one of the first cuts was Donald Andrews, superintendent of Randolph County Schools. Felix McNeill, the only male in the inaugural class, was Andrews' stylist.

The 6,000-square-foot Cosmetology Center, located in Hillside Shopping Center at 1003 S. Fayetteville Street, will accommodate 36 students at a time at styling stations on the floor, plus students in two classrooms. A second class of Cosmetology students will enroll in January. The Center holds 10 shampoo stations, 12 dryers, a waxing room, and a manicure/pedicure area.

Students will serve clients on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m.-12 noon, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 8:15-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Senior Appreciation Day is Thursday; all services are one-half price. Prices range from $5 for a simple haircut, to $30 for an initial bleach. Permanent waves range from $18 to $30. The cost is $5 for a manicure and $10 for a pedicure. A full price list is available on RCC's Web Site at www.randolph.edu/cosmetology/.

Photos from the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony/Grand Opening