Cosmetology students lobby for grants at Statehouse

Dozens of women wearing bright yellow t-shirts have flooded the Iowa Statehouse today (Monday), asking legislators to re-think the policy that denies them Iowa Tuition Grants for cosmetology school. Jenna Hicklin is a student at Capri College of Cosmetology in Dubuque. “We aren’t allow to get grants because of the school that we attend, but we’re students and we should be allowed anyway and that’s why we’re here,” Hicklin says. Trudy Messner, an instructor at Capri College in Dubuque, says the state does not allow tuition grants for her students. Messner says Capri students qualify for federal grants and loans, but while Capri has been accredited by a national group, the state only gives grants to students at cosmetology colleges that have met the requirements of a different accreditation group. Students from cosmetology schools in Dubuque, Davenport and Cedar Rapids are lobbying legislators today.