Back to School Bash a BIG Hit

Students will go back to school with style because Hays Academy of Hair Design volunteered its services Tuesday night in an attempt to join together the higher-education facilities of Hays. Students at Fort Hays State University and North Central Kansas Technical College were given free haircuts, manicures, makeup application or eyebrow waxes. In conjunction with Celebration Community Church, the Ignite Band performed and Jeff Burnett, director of the college-aged ministry, spoke. This is the first year for the Back-to-School Bash for college students. "Our goal is to engage the three higher education learning facilities and hope relationships are formed," said Len Melvin, marketing director of the academy. "This will allow our students the opportunity to visit with other students. It's not too often all three (schools) are in the same place for any common reason." More than 25 HAHD students volunteered for the event.

"Our students like to give back," Melvin said. "They learn this is an industry where you can give back with your skills, and it costs nothing to do so. So our students are always very open and welcome to the opportunity to be involved in community events." Melvin attends Celebration and knew the church could pull a large crowd from the college ministry.

"That's a great group to be involved with," he said. "A lot of times students come here and don't have the means to plug into a church. This is a great way for them to get plugged in with the college-aged students."

Encounter, the college-aged ministry, averages 250 attendees each Wednesday night.

Well over 100 students lined up to receive the free services. Hot Dogs chips and drinks were also provided by Len & Summer Melvin and Eric & Danielle Markley the owners of the Academy.

(Thank you to Elizabeth Golden and the Hays Daily News for allowing me to repost their article for the majority of this blog). -PK