Wallace State celebrates ribbon cutting for Salon and Spa Management program in Oneonta

Oneonta, Ala. — Wallace State Community College recently held a ribbon cutting celebrating the launch of the Salon and Spa Management program at the college’s Oneonta Technical Center.

Lauren Wilson, Director of the Oneonta Instructional Site, said the process to add Salon and Spa Management began a couple of years ago when Sabrina Flanigan, the chair of the program, brought up the idea of adding courses at the Oneonta site to meet the needs in the community.

“We have been very fortunate to now add the full Salon and Spa Management associate degree program here for the Oneonta Instructional Site, so that’s what we’re here to celebrate today,” Wilson said. “This is our first semester, and we have 20 students in the program.”

Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics pointed to the students gathered for the ribbon cutting, noting they would not have had the opportunity to enroll in Salon and Spa Management classes on the Oneonta site without the efforts of community leaders who worked with the college to establish a campus there. She promised the college would continue its efforts to meet the needs of the community.

“We are going to continue to grow as we align what we do in terms of programming with the workforce needs of the Oneonta, Blount County area,” Karolewics said.

Students in Wallace State’s Salon and Spa Management program at the Oneonta site listen as college and community leaders speak during the ribbon cutting for the program.  

“This is just a great example, the opening of the Salon and Spa Management program, of why we do what we do,” said Jerry Murcks, Dean of Applied Technologies at Wallace State, which is have advanced opportunities for our students, help the workforce and help our community.”

State Representative David Standridge presented a $5,000 scholarship donation to Wallace State, thanking local leaders for their collaboration in establishing the Oneonta campus.

“Good things happen when you work together, and that’s what’s happened here,” Standridge said.

Dr. Karolewics reported the Oneonta sites, which include the Academic Center and Technical Center, currently have 497 registered students. The sites offer academic courses for university transfer, Nursing, Welding, Salon and Spa Management, Dual Enrollment, Adult Education and ESL.

Beginning with the Spring 2026 semester, the Salon and Spa Management program will offer hair, nail and esthetic services to the public To schedule an appointment, call 205.762.0637.

Registration is underway for the Spring 2026 semester, with classes beginning Jan. 7 for regular and Mini Term I and March 5 for Mini Term II courses. Visit www.wallacestate.edu for more information or call 256.352.8236 or email lioncentral@wallacestate.edu.

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a member of the Alabama Community College System, is a comprehensive community college in north central Alabama offering more than 200 options in academic, health and technical programs of study leading to an associate degree, certificate or transfer, as well as workforce-credit training and adult education. An Achieving the Dream Leader College, nationally recognized by the Aspen Institute as a Rising Star for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South for workforce development, named a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing and the National Security Administration, rated the Top Online Community College in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution and an All-Steinway School, Wallace State is an outstanding place for students to pursue their education and career goals. Classes are offered online and on campus, day, evening and on weekends, with numerous start dates each year. Visit Wallace State’s beautiful main campus located on 300-acres in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite location in downtown Oneonta, Ala., find us online at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.