COD Cosmetology Students Win SkillsUSA Illinois Championships

College of DuPage Cosmetology students Gina Steiner and Caitlin Irwin took first place at the SkillsUSA Illinois Championships and will travel to the national competition in June.

Competing in post-secondary categories, Steiner (Bellwood) took first in Cosmetology, while Irwin (Wheaton) took first in Job Skills Demonstration. COD students also swept the Cosmetology category, with Laura Thomas (Oak Lawn) finishing second and Marina Luciano (LaGrange Park) third. Also competing from COD were Jennifer Pham (Wheaton), Morgan Currigan (West Chicago), Corrine Calderon (Naperville) and Kelly Filer (Woodridge).

Melissa Victor, adjunct Cosmetology instructor at COD, said this was the first time that College of DuPage Cosmetology students competed in SkillsUSA, which offers a wide range of contests for high school and post-secondary students. Victor is a trained SkillsUSA coach who worked with high school cosmetology students for eight years at Technology Center of DuPage.

"I'm so proud of our COD students," she said. "We've been preparing since February, and their success reflects on the caliber of our program."

Steiner never expected to place at the state competition.

"I entered it for fun, thinking it would be a great learning experience while allowing me to practice my skills," she said. "Once the competition began, we all relaxed. It was like being in class."

Steiner initially started a career in health care. While she loved interacting with patients and advocating on their behalf, she realized the profession just didn't attract her as it once did. She began thinking about cosmetology and how much she would enjoy working with customers, much like she did with patients in health care. After researching schools, Steiner selected College of DuPage.

Having earned her associate's degree this spring, Steiner is starting work at a salon. She eventually would like to merge her health care and cosmetology background and run a small non-surgical hair replacement business.

"COD has the best faculty, including advisors, that made it impossible to want any other school," she said. "The fact that the school offers a Cosmetology degree program enabled me to satisfy my desire for a stronger educational foundation. The incredible instructors have inspired me to fulfill goals that I thought were not possible in this field."

Irwin was excited and nervous about the state competition.

"It ended up being a fun experience, thanks to all of the help from Melissa Victor and the other instructors," she said.

Irwin, who is currently at a salon, plans to earn her Cosmetology certificate and then continue for an associate's degree. She's keeping her options open about what degree to pursue.

"I love doing hair and makeup, and with my family's help and encouragement I was able to come to school and study what I love doing," she said. "I'm so happy with COD's program and the training I've received. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Luciano initially was not going to compete as she didn't feel confident in her skills.

"Melissa Victor pushed me, and with her help, I was glad to compete," she said. "She kept encouraging all of us. Once I was at the competition, I had so much fun."

Luciano always wanted to do hair. When she was in the fourth grade, her mother bought her a mannequin head, and she has been focused on a cosmetology career since.

"I'm 19 and already have my license. This is a big industry and you can go so far, and my hope is to keep getting better and better," she said. "I can't thank College of DuPage enough. The Cosmetology program is one of the best around, and it has so many great teachers who are always willing to help."

For more about the Cosmetology program, visit www.cod.edu/programs/cosmetology, email gayanna@cod.edu or call (630) 942-2502.