Middle Georgia Technical College

MGTC Cosmetology Students Provide Services for Happy Hour Clients

Warner Robins - What began as an effort to raise money to attend a hair show in Las Vegas has turned into a philanthropic effort on behalf of the third quarter students in the Cosmetology program at Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins.

During spring quarter, Happy Hour consumers were brought to the Cosmetology lab at MGTC for haircuts and styling. Each Cosmetology student worked on different clients and explained the process while performing the service. The Happy Hour consumers will return during Summer Quarter, August 12, for another round cosmetology services.

Since 1957, Happy Hour Service Center has been serving the developmentally disabled citizens of Houston County. Consumers are trained in daily living skills, communication skills, social skills, and work adjustment skills and encouraged to reach his or her full potential. Happy Hour, which employs consumers in various areas including cooking, recycling, and assembling kits, also provides residential services.

Jessica Liles of Happy Hour, who coordinated the effort with MGTC, said the services provided by the Cosmetology department made the Happy Hour consumers feel special and appreciated.

"I want everyone to know the huge impact this small amount of time had on our consumers," said Liles. "The students in the Cosmetology program chose to set aside time for a group of individuals who unfortunately do not always feel special. They were very professional and attentive and explained the process, even to our consumers who cannot communicate verbally. Also while styling their hair, the students continued to talk to them, giving each person a special moment that was all about them."

Liles said this process had a great impact on two consumers in particular.

"One of our young ladies told me that afternoon that she could be a model now and the gentlemen who had his hair trimmed has yet to wear his hat back to work," she said. "I have been at Happy Hour for a year and this was the first day I had ever seen him without his hat!"

Cosmetology Program Chair Jolie Martin helped to coordinate the effort for the students.

"Our students were really glad to be able to do this for the people at Happy Hour," said Martin. "This project started out as a way to support a professional development trip but really turned into something great for the school and the students."

Originally, the cosmetology students took on the venture as a way to raise funds for the group to travel to Las Vegas to attend a prominent hair show. However, the students made the decision to donate the funds to the Middle Georgia Technical College Foundation in support of the quarterly Cosmetology program scholarship.

Each quartr at awards day, a student from the Cosmetology program receives a $250 scholarship through donations and funds raised by the MGTC Foundation. The money raised through providing hair services for the Happy Hour consumers will now be returned to a deserving student who is selected for the award through an application process and recommendation from the instructor.

Students in the Cosmetology program must complete 550 hours of live work before they are qualified to take the state licensing exam. Live work hours are earned in the Cosmetology lab by performing services for clients, such as the Happy Hour consumers, three days a week for two quarters. Services are also available to the general public.

For more information on the Cosmetology program or for appointment availability, call 478.988.6800 ext 6913 or log on to www.middlegatech.edu.

Students who took part in providing services for the Happy Hour consumers include (front, l to r) Jolvontea Snipes, Kim Johnson, April Leary, Amanda Joiner, Amanda Westbury, and Erika Crum. (back, l to r) Jessenia Cruz, Amaris Askew, Tyise Jackson, Audra Francis, Amber Poole, Sara Nells, Maya Contreas, Donna Champagne, Melodi Thomas, Nikki Farrow, and Sondra Perine