TOPEKA (KSNT) – The new Washburn Tech Academy of Cosmetology welcomed students for the past three months as they made their official move back on June 1.
We stopped by the academy to see how the students and staff have adapted to the move and the new facility.
Washburn Tech added the academy of cosmetology 10 years ago in a different building. Officials said the previous facility had issues with water and electricity, limited space and basic necessities.
Now at its new location in North Topeka, Washburn Tech has been able to customize and build a space that is more industry-standard fitting.
“We had 75 Students in a very small location compared to what we have here,” said Assistant Dean of Instructional Services Chaz Havens. “So we were able to come over here, get new heating, new air and lighten up it and kind of make it look more like the industry that they’re going to be seeing as sort of a 1980s salon or something like that.”
As for the staff and students who have been in both facilities, the new benefits and tools they have access to are helping them succeed and prepare for an easier transition into the industry after graduation.
“It definitely gives us like that salon feel like you don’t feel like you’re going to school,” said student Danita McPherson. “When you’re out here on the floor, you definitely get like that firsthand experience of what it would be like to work with clients and to work in a salon setting. I feel like when I graduate that I’m going to definitely be a lot more comfortable going out and finding a job and things like that.”
Another feature this facility brings is student interaction. Students and staff said at the previous location in South Topeka, they felt isolated from other programs.
“You can tell that they’re feeling a little bit more confident,” said Teresa Huttenmaier, cosmetology program coordinator & instructor. “You know, we have more open spaces. We have the new mirrors that are LED; that’s more up to date for what salons are in, and just getting that more confidence in here because we are adding more open area.”
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Thanks to community support, new clients can now access the academy’s full range of salon services in its larger facility.
“We have gone through more supplies; we’ve seen more people coming in and more revenue coming in,” Havens said. “So, there is that side of it. So, we are serving a larger population in the new facility compared to where we were.”
Some of the services the academy offers include natural nail services, textured hair, hair services including cuts, color, stylings and skin services. The program will soon see some new equipment in their skin services rooms, including a micro-derma machine. To find out more information about the services the academy offers, click here.
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