More than a Quality Beauty Education

The Federico brothers, Jeremy, Adam, and Joe, whose family has owned and operated the Federico Beauty Institute (FBI) for three generations now, feel strongly that volunteer work and support of your community are important for both individuals and businesses alike in order to succeed and grow.

Since the school was established by grandfather James Federico in 1946, Federico Beauty Institute has offered a quality education in beauty that is unmatched, including an outstanding Pivot Point International curriculum, advanced education classes, a faculty of professional tenured educators, and a dedication to instilling in students and graduates a life-long commitment to continuing education. What are some of the other benefits that make Federico stand out from other elite beauty schools? What makes Federico "More than a quality beauty education?"

Beyond a Traditional Beauty Education

The "More" that is provided to all Federico students falls under the category of "Student Services" and includes the following:

• FBI Student Externship Program
• Lifetime Job Placement Assistance
• Advanced Education Classes
• Beauty Industry Events
• Community Outreach

Gary Federico gave impetus to the student externship program by assisting in the creation of the student externship bill that was subsequently passed by the California State Legislature.

There are at least 45 different salons and spas within Sacramento that work with the Federico Beauty Institute Student Externship Program.

The voluntary Federico Beauty Institute Student Externship Program is intended to offer student externs hands-on salon/spa familiarity and practice while  they are attending cosmetology school. As detailed below, participating salon/spas will be able to work in conjunction with the student services coordinator of Federico Beauty Institute to singly draft future employees from the school.

Many externship salons prefer hiring Federico students who have done an externship at their beauty salons. Salon management can watch students during an externship to see if they would be adequate employees as they work under "real-world" retail conditions and interface with teammates and clients.

Jennifer keeps an industry Job Board on the FBI website to facilitate the job searching process for Federico graduates. Postings for jobs through local salons and spas are put up on a weekly basis by Jennifer.

Jennifer also has the ability to supply the students with different resume writing techniques, editing assistance and templates. "Helping students find a career in their chosen industry is a top priority of mine," Jennifer said. "Our graduates have spent a lot of effort working for their dream career; it would be a shame to see that dream go unfulfilled."

Advanced Classes

Senior students may take in-house advanced classes that are under the direction of Adam Federico, owner/manager of AJF Salon in Sacramento and Artistic Director for Federico Beauty Institute. "Few if any beauty school students have the opportunity to receive this caliber of specialized training while still in beauty school," Jennifer said.  Moreover, Advanced Cutting Workshops have been provided by Yolly ten Koppel, International Artistic Director of Pivot Point International, to which all qualifying students were allowed to visit.

Event Participation

While it is not a graduation requirement to participate in community events, the majority of Federico students are glad to contribute their time and skill to help with applying cosmetics or styling hair for local charity fashion shows, give free back massages for concert attendees, or cutting hair for free for veterans of the Vietnam War.

Jennifer also tells students about trade shows on the local and national levels, so they can get an opportunity to meet industry professionals. An additional advantage for students: they could receive hours toward the full amount of time  necessary to graduate from Federico Cosmetology and Esthetics Programs.

Community Outreach

Being an educational establishment, we know it is critical that our students obtain a higher sense of the community and get a greater understanding of their role in society by participating in different outreach activities, where they can give their talent and time to the community.

By teaming up with the community and industry, Federico students reap great benefits from having the opportunity to "get out of the classroom and clinic environment and have rewarding experiences giving back to the community", according to Jennifer.

For additional information on the philanthropic work and community functions that students of the Federico Beauty Institute have taken part in, go to www.federico.edu/community-service.

Staying Connected

Jennifer also serves as student Home Room coordinator. The school has Home Room as an approach to reduce the divide separating the school administration from student life. Each week all the students gather together for announcements on upcoming events and administrative communications, as well as business news.

On a bi-weekly basis, a guest speaker is invited by Jennifer to give an educational presentation offering their practical experience in the beauty industry, or to demonstrate some recently introduced salon/spa product or service.

Following are some the industry professionals who have presented as a guest speaker in 2009:

*Angelina, owner of Deeda Salon, Seminar on Personal Image;

*Bob Shaw, Modern Salon Magazine, Seminar on the State of the Industry

*Jacob Sillers, Proctor & Gamble, Sebastian "Flaunt" product education and launch

*Grant Romundt, "Scissorboy", Promoting free educational "webisodes" available on his website.

Jennifer thinks she has the greatest job there is. "It's very rewarding to come to work every day knowing that our students are getting 'the best of the best' in beauty education," Jennifer said.

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