Halloween competition gives students a chance to showcase creativity, career skills

RIVERTON — Halloween came a little early for students in the hair design and nails program at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers in Riverton.

Teams in the morning hours and afternoon hours transformed classmates into everything from Sally from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Edward Scissorhands" to mermaids and the "Bride of Frankenstein" during the school's annual Halloween fantasy competition.

The event challenged students to work against the clock, combining hair styling, makeup artistry and nail design into a single themed creation.

"They collaborate and find a theme, a Halloween theme," said instructor Dacia Peterson Sullivan. "Face paint, hair (and) nails, it will all come together."

As students sprayed hair, applied makeup and added finishing touches, instructors counted down the final minutes before judging. The competition offered more than just a chance to show off spooky looks.

Students said the program is helping prepare them for future careers in the beauty industry.

"I like to make people feel good, feel pretty and confident in themselves," said student Zoey Hoyl, who is a junior in the Jordan School District.

For 16-year-old Ella Crane, the program provides a head start on professional training.

"I'm able to get all my school hours right now versus having to pay for expensive colleges when I'm older," she said. "It's always been my goal to help people feel better about their hair."

Another student, 17-year-old junior Kayleeah Galuvao, said the hands-on learning experience helps give her confidence about her future.

"I love the rush of being able to know what I'm going to do. I like having a plan. I like knowing what I'm going to do ahead and not last minute," she said. "Something that will keep me stable on my feet until I go to college."

Beyond technical skills, instructors said the competition teaches students how to collaborate, think creatively and solve problems as a team.

"It's a little bit out of the ordinary," Peterson Sullivan said. "Thinking outside of the box and collaborating across curriculum, of nails and hair design. We want them to understand that we all kind of work together as a group as an industry."

Students agree teamwork is one of the biggest lessons.

"I feel like you are learning a lot about working with people," Hoyl said.

For the students, however, the real prize was gaining valuable experience that could help launch future careers in the beauty industry.