Golden School Awards Registration is Open

AACS presents the third annual Golden School Awards. Do you have the finest facilities, the best school culture, or does your school create a positive impact on the community? Are you “school of the year” material? We have simplified the 2023 submission process and all AACS members receive their first entry for free!  In addition, we have changed the judging criteria to accommodate campus and school group size to recognize the diverse size and complexity of our institutions.

AACS is excited to receive entries that showcase your successes. Here’s a tip; videos and lots of images are highly encouraged! We want to highlight all your hard work and achievements, because we know our schools go above and beyond and deserve to be recognized. All entries will be judged fairly by beauty and wellness professionals who are independent from AACS.

You have the opportunity to submit your school for one or all nine categories.

• Advocacy
• Community Involvement
• Facilities
• Legacy Alumni
• Marketing Innovation
• Placement
• School Culture
• Student Salon & Spa
• School of the Year

WINNERS will be announced at AACS Annual Convention – October 13-14 in New Orleans!

Benefits of participating:

• A trophy to display on campus and boost your school’s reputation
• A digital badge to add to your website and social media
• Publication in The Wink
• A feature on the AACS website and social media pages
• Acknowledgement and recognition

Participating for 2023 is easy as 1..2..3

1. Register your intent to participate by campus and category.  First campus and category is free.  Additional submissions are only $75 per campus and category.
2. Gather your documentation and submit it by September 13, 2023
3. Attend the AACS Annual Conference to find out if you won!

GSA 2023 Category Descriptions

Once you register your campus to participate but before formally submitting your application, you will receive a planning document to assist you with your submission.  Our questions are open ended because we want to hear directly from you why you believe your campus is the best in the category you are applying for.

There is no one that knows your campus better than yourself. Our questions are short because only you can truly describe why you excel in the category.  Feel free to make your submissions as long as you need to fully describe why your campus deserves to win. Supporting documents such as photos, videos and screenshots are not required but highly encouraged.

Do I need to be an AACS member to submit an application?

The Golden School Awards are only open to current AACS member schools. If you would like to learn more about AACS membership, please reach out to the AACS office at info@beautyschools.org.

What makes a successful entry?

No one knows your campus like you. The judges will be looking for responses that come from the heart and truly embody the award that you are applying for.

Can I submit one entry for all my campuses?

While one brand may have multiple campuses, each campus is unique! Therefore, all applications are campus specific.

When are entries due?

All applications must be submitted through the online portal between August 28 – September 8, 2023.

Is there a cost to enter?

The entry fee is $75 per campus per category.

When will the winners be announced?

Winners will be announced at the AACS Annual Convention.

What kind of supporting documents can I upload?

Applicants can submit any type of supporting documents! The follow file types are all accepted by the application: .jpg, .png, .pdf, .mp4, .mov. If you are unsure, reach out to the AACS office at, info@beautyschools.org.

Is there a size limit for uploading my supporting documents?

Individual files can be a maximum of 1GB. There is no limit on how many files you can upload.

What is the best way to use my award?

Display your trophy on campus! Add the digital badge to your email signatures and on the home page of your website. Issue a press release.  Let your community know of your achievement.