May 11, 2009
For Immediate Release

RCCC Cosmetology Students
Donate Time, Skill for 'Locks of Love'

              SALISBURY, N.C. — Sixty-six students and six instructors from the cosmetology program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College donated their time and talent recently for the "Locks of Love" cause.

               Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under 18 in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure.

               On May 1, during the Rowan County Relay for Life at the Rowan County Fairgrounds, RCCC students and instructors cut and styled hair for Locks of Love, collecting 213 feet of hair donations. Several former students and other local stylists also participated.

               Angela Cameron, RCCC cosmetology administrative assistant, coordinated RCCC's efforts. Instructors Patricia Stirewalt, Michelle Sofia, Karen Baucom, Allison Ballard, Hollie Hale-Hill and Amy Allison donated their time to help the cosmetology students.

               "We are proud of our students and instructors for the time and hard work spent on this event. We are looking forward to working with Locks of Love in the future," said Wanda Pressley-Altman, head of RCCC's cosmetology program.

              With approximately 240 full- and part-time students in cosmetology, esthetics and manicuring, RCCC has one of the largest cosmetology programs in North Carolina. Students who complete the program qualify to take the N.C. State Board of Cosmetic Arts Examination and gain employment in salons, spas and related businesses.

               RCCC is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus counties in North Carolina. RCCC is one of 58 colleges in the state-supported North Carolina Community College System.

                RCCC offers fully-accredited associate-degree programs in more than 40 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies. RCCC also offers accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career training, continuing education and basic skills education. RCCC provides a strong foundation and transferable credits for students moving on to four-year colleges and universities and helps adults get the additional training they need to start new careers.

               RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an overall enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus being developed in Kannapolis. For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.