AACS is proud to announce the winner of the Legacy Alumni Golden School Award, Aveda Arta & Sciences Institute Minneapolis.
The reputation of graduates, connections, and comradery are the pivotal foundations that create an astounding alumni program. At Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis, they have an extraordinary staff with 99% of them being graduates from one of their programs. Since the educators are alumni themselves, they can relate to students through their own experiences. It truly brings the Aveda Arts Mission full circle for their alumni. When someone graduates from Aveda, they become part of the family for the long haul. Staff hear it all the time—when alumni come back to tour Aveda Arts Minneapolis, they all say it feels like they are coming home.
Aveda Institute Minneapolis was founded in 1978 by the pioneer of Aveda himself, Horst Rechelbacher. In 1982, the Horst Education Center was established as the very first Aveda Institute which ultimately became Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis in present day. The legacy of the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis is as rich as the historic Mason Lodge they are located in. Built in the 1920 and purchased by Horst in the 1980’s, the building still has the handiwork of the mason who built it and the art from Horst’s travels, show casing the rich history of the building, Aveda the company and the Aveda Institute. The mothership of all things Aveda education and product, guests come from across the globe to see their school and hear the stories of Horst and graduates.
Among their many, many graduates, some names you may recognize include:
Jonathon Van Ness
JVN, hairdresser, podcast host, activist, author and television personality from “Queer Eye”
David Wagner
DayMaker Innovator of the “Pay it Forward” movement, owner of 10 award winning Salons in MN, CA, and AZ. As a student, David was Horst’s assistant where he learned the value of making each person feel genuinely special
Janelle Geason
Lead makeup artist for New York Fashion Week, Aveda Global Artistic Director for Makeup, inspirational speaker, featured in Elle magazine, Redbook, Lucky, and Women’s magazines.
Jules Annen
Author and owner of the largest freelance Hair and Makeup Minneapolis: Jules Annen Beauty
Jason Back
Highly accomplished color artist, husband to Ted Gibson, an Aveda Minneapolis instructor before moving to New York
Jon Reyman
Leads Fashion for Hair with Janelle Geason, owner of Spoke and Weal, collaborative partner to Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta, Dubbed the go-to artist for beauty editors in New York and Los Angeles, Featured in Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, the Hollywood reporter and more
Faatemah
Celebrity clients include Holly Robinson Peete and Suzanne Somers, collaborates with Essence, Modern Salon and Brides Magazines, ABC, NBC and Fox
Larissa Wong
Awarded Best Haircut by Allure Magazine, Day Maker, works at NY Fashion Week and Master Jam
Hauns Korpela
Apprentice to Horst, Artistic Director & Platform Artist
Nell Rueck
Founder of Spot Spa with 2 locations and opening a Bath house which will employ over 100 Massage Therapists
Charlie Brackney Love &
Co-founder of Haus Salon
Pierce Austin
Hair stylist for Men in Black II and III, Hair stylist and Barber for characters in Family Matters and Melrose Place
Ginger Boyle
Author, and Salon Owner & Stylist at Planet Salon in LA
And the list grows every year…
The alumni legacy at Aveda Arts Minneapolis extends generations. Brad Schalager, founder and owner of multiple salons with accolades sent his daughter to Aveda Institute Minneapolis, and she is now a graduate.
These Legacy Alumni have now grown to become the employers of their recent graduates. Aveda Arts Minneapolis has had many calls from these alumni telling them they will hire the graduates from their Alma Mater first and specifically request to attend their career fairs, seeking out Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Minneapolis students because they know first-hand the education & expectations of Aveda Arts students.
Aveda Arts graduates are some of the most successful and talented business owners, freelance stylists, and platform artists in the industry. Their success is Aveda’s success, and the Aveda Arts team love to watch them continue to grow.