Albany Beauty Academy fully operational after accident

ALBANY — Albany Beauty Academy is now fully operational after an accident at the facility temporarily closed down a section of its facility, the owner of the academy said.

Takenya Jordan, owner of the academy, said the 2231 Dawson Road facility — located in a suite of the Market Square Complex — is fully operational following an incident on Feb. 24 during which a spokeswoman from the Albany Police Department said in initial reports that a 77-year-old woman drove a 2007 Nissan Murano into the academy.

When the woman was in the parking lot, her foot slipped off the brake and she depressed the accelerator. The woman’s vehicle drove into the classroom space used by the academy, police officials said.

This week, Jordan said the damage from the accident was fully repaired and that the business and academy is fully up and running.

“We are open and up and running,” she said. “A lot of people thought we were closed.”

The repairs took place as the academy began seeking 20 people for the second round of its cosmetology scholarship program. As of Thursday, there were three people in the program, Jordan said.

Last year, the academy offered scholarships worth $3,300 in tuition to 15 individuals. Those in the program can receive financial help in building a skillset that would enable them to become licensed through the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology.

The scholarship program lasts for nine months, or until 1,500 hours of credit are earned during a commitment from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, academy officials said.

Officials with the academy said that as long as a student remains in good standing in the scholarship program, the cost of tuition is waived. A $50 registration fee is required, and individuals need to be at least 17 years old and have a high school diploma or GED to qualify.

Jordan said the academy is still accepting applicants into the scholarship program. For more information on the academy, visit http://albanybeautyacademy.com.