Students from five regional technical schools view the submissions in the annual ‘Beauty School Battles’ cosmetology competition recently, hosted by Franklin County Technical School. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) 
Some of the many designs entered into the competition. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) One of the demonstration stations on display at the event, featuring FCTS students Mady Kendrick and Nora Mathurin. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) FCTS sophomore Lorenzo Buccaroni, right, served as emcee for the event. Pictured at one of the live demonstrations are Carla Rompies and Emily Ryan. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) One of the demonstration stations on display at the event, featuring FCTS students Cailin McClure and Kaydee Baker. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) Students from McCann Technical School and Smith Vocational And Agricultural High School get to know each other during the event. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) FCTS student Hazel Andrade answers a question from cosmetology instructor Electra Manley during the first portion of the event. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) Students stop for photos during intermission. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) Winners line up on stage at the conclusion of the event. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) 
Judges evaluate the submissions back stage. Winners were chosen in each of three categories. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) Students stop for photos during intermission. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School) Monty Tech student Lyric Eady answers a question from cosmetology instructor Electra Manley during the first portion of the event. (Photo courtesy Franklin County Technical School)
TURNERS FALLS — Superintendent Richard Martin and Director of Career and Technical Education Matthew West are pleased to announce that several tech schools from the region visited Franklin County Technical School last week for the annual “Beauty School Battles” cosmetology competition.
The event, which was held at the Ja’Duke Center for the Performing Arts adjacent to the Franklin County Technical School campus on Wednesday, May 4, featured cosmetology students from FCTS, McCann Technical School in North Adams, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School in Palmer, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton.
As part of the event, students brought pre-designed manikin heads that were styled in one of three categories: Fantasy, Texture and Formal. The designs were judged by a panel of industry professionals, with winners being chosen in each category.
The “Beauty School Battles” event has been canceled for the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, but FCTS was thrilled to host it again this year. The school started the competition several years ago, and Pathfinder was the first school to join.
“Since we started it the event has just kept growing, up to the current lineup of the five schools we have this year,” said Electra Manley, who along with Lynn Wiles make up the school’s cosmetology faculty. “The turnout was terrific this year and we’re so glad to have brought this event back. The students have been a joy to work with, and on behalf of the entire school we thank the other programs for participating and making the event as special as it is.”
Winners of the event included:
- Texture, first place, Kaelyn Leblanc, Pathfinder Regional
- Texture, second place, Carleigh Page, Smith Vocational
- Texture, third place, Andrea Ranirez, Smith Vocational
- Fantasy, first place, Sarah Edler, Pathfinder Regional
- Fantasy, second place, Xavier Logimoniere, Pathfinder Regional
- Fantasy, third place, Trinity Demore, Pathfinder Regional
- Formal, first place, Kris Stafford, Smith Vocational
- Formal, second place, Jazmin Turbides, Monty Tech
- Formal, third place, Lauren Cook, Pathfinder Regional
The event was emceed by FCTS sophomore Lorenzo Buccaroni, who along with Manley held a question-and-answer session with those in attendance at the start of the event. Students in the crowd were given prizes for answering a variety of questions relating to the field of cosmetology.
“One of the best parts about our cosmetology program is that we get to learn everything there is to know about the industry,” Buccaroni said. “This event is also a great opportunity to meet students from other schools. This type of thing isn’t at all what I was expecting when I joined this program, so to have an event like this really just blows me away.”
Students were treated to live demonstrations by FCTS students in each of the three categories being judged, and then had the opportunity to speak and tell their peers why they chose to study cosmetology and what it means to them.
Once the judging (which was done in secret backstage) was completed, students had the chance to view each of the displays that were entered into the competition.
McCann instructor Kristi Mastroianni said the event brought out what’s best about the cosmetology profession.
“Cosmetology lends itself to having people with a variety of different strengths, so when you get them all in a room like this they can really grow their skills, and the same is true for the teachers who get to interact with each other,” she said. “It’s wonderful that Franklin County Tech is hosting an event like this. Being an exclusively post-secondary program our students are a little older than standard high schoolers, but this type of event really shows how they can all relate to each other and learn from each others’ experiences and areas of interest.”
Multiple times during the event, including at lunch and in between sessions, students were encouraged to interact with peers from other schools, pose for photos and even dance to music being played on the stage.
“We’re all here competing against each other, but really what stands out the most is being able to make new friends and realize that there are so many kids out there who have the same interests as you,” said FCTS sophomore Skylar Alamed. “It’s all about finding your passion and what you love and want to do when you graduate, and being able to interact with your peers like this really helps us do that.”
Franklin County Technical School would like to thank the following judges for contributing to the event: Kim Rodrigo and Jackie Barisano from the Lift salon in Amherst; Brie Rehm from Bri Lux salon in South Hadley; Rachel Austin and Jason Desjardins, alumni from Pathfinder working in the industry; Jenn Pasquini, CosmoProf representative.
The school also thanks School Resource officer Mike Sevene and Sergeant Lee Laster for helping monitor the front of the theater and lunch tables; Cafeteria Lunch Manager Elizabeth Bouchard and staff for providing lunches for all students; and the FCTS administrative team for their continued support, including Director of Career and Technical Education Matthew West and Vocational Director Administrative Assistant Diana Wheeler.
To learn more about the FCTS cosmetology program, click here.
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