Capri College has received top honors in the 2013 Excellence in Education program, a national competition that recognizes innovative cosmetology schools across the country. Capri was notified last month that they were nominated in 4 of the 8 categories that comprise the program, including School Culture, School Marketing, Community Involvement, and School Technology.

Capri College had previously been nominated in the Community Involvement, Facilities, and Placement categories, but never received top honors. The winning announcement for their efforts came last week at the American Association of Cosmetology Schools  Annual Convention held in Las Vegas, NV.

To be nominated for these awards, schools were asked to submit essays for each category describing how their institution not only embodies excellence in education for their students, but how they are involved in their communities as well as describing the innovation/evolution of their school over the past year. Essays were judged by a panel of industry professions at Modern Salon Magazine. From a field of hundreds of applicants, finalists were narrowed down to 6 schools per category..

Capri's nominations and 1st place honor demonstrates what Capri College has provided for their past graduates, current students, as well as the communities they serve in Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Dubuque.

For more information on Capri's national award recognition in this year's Modern Salon Excellence in Education program, please go to www.capricollege.edu

SPRINGFIELD, IL (11/24/2013)(readMedia)-- A prototypical sergeant major in the Army is rough around the edges, crotchety when he speaks, and usually appears older than he is due to the hard life of a career Soldier.

You would not notice those traits when Command Sgt. Maj. Howard Robinson of Olympia Fields, Ill., is making his rounds visiting Soldiers.

"He doesn't get excited too easily, but it's probably because of the stress he had growing up as a kid," said Brig. Gen. Richard Hayes of Chatham, Ill., the Assistant Adjutant General, Illinois National Guard.

Hayes said Robinson gets his strength from his mother, whom Hayes has met on several occasions.

"She was a single mom in the projects trying to bring him up in abject poverty and to look at her and see the strength in her, you'll see it in him," said Hayes. "If you meet his mom, you'll see a lot of the demeanor in him is a reflection of his mother."

Robinson retired from the Illinois National Guard Nov. 30 after 30 years. He served for the past two years as the senior enlisted advisor, the principle advisor to the Adjutant General on all matters related to Soldiers and Airmen.

"It's bittersweet," said Robinson. "The thing I'm going to miss most is the interaction with our Soldiers and Airmen."

Robinson entered the Illinois National Guard in 1983 as a fire support specialist with 2nd battalion, 122nd Field Artillery. At the time, Robinson was finishing his bachelor's degree in healthcare administration and wanted to serve the Guard in a medical-related capacity.

"I was told there were no slots in the medical field and the only military occupational specialty available to me was fire support specialist in the artillery," said Robinson. "So, I joined the artillery and I started to enjoy it because I wasn't doing medical stuff during drill weekends. It worked out for me. I always tried to turn a negative into a positive."

Robinson's positivity is one of the first things Hayes noticed when the two began serving together in the early 1990s.

"He is very personable and he was totally dedicated and motivated to do the best he could," said Hayes.

Robinson also had thoughts of becoming an officer when he first enlisted, but abandoned the idea because of the demands of school, a budding family and a full time job.

"It was taking a toll," said Robinson. "I felt the only way I could make a difference was to be part of the solution and I had to place myself in a position where I could do that."

Hayes said Robinson was instrumental in making improvements to the enlisted promotion system, which he said Robinson did not believe was a fair system.

"Whether you like the current system or not, he was passionate about making it better; throughout his career he was passionate about making it better," said Hayes.

Robinson said the camaraderie and the opportunity to mentor Soldiers are moments he reflects on often.

"I think I've done a great job, at least I hope I did a great job, at being able to mentor young men," said Robinson. "The feedback I get from them is 'if it wasn't for you' and 'thank you.' The joy of seeing these guys doing what they do and looking at me as a staff sergeant back then, and they're taking over and doing it now, I can't help but be proud. That makes me feel good."

The list of Soldiers who credit Robinson with mentoring them might rival the list of individuals Robinson says mentored him. At the top of Robinson's list of mentors is his mother followed by his extended family and his Army family, including Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret) O'Darrell Pennington of Chicago.

Pennington began serving with Robinson in the early 1990s and said Robinson was studios and mild mannered.

"He knew how to take care of business and was good at getting Soldiers to do what needed to be done," said Pennington. "Stay focused and shoot for the top. Those are the two things he always did that I would encourage other Soldiers to do. It worked for him."

Staying focused is exactly what Robinson plans to do in retirement. He plans to complete the seven remaining classes toward a Master's Degree in healthcare administration and continue to serve Soldiers and Airmen.

"My desire would be to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs. My background in healthcare administration and my service in the Guard, interacting with Soldiers and Airmen, veterans and their families, I think that would be a perfect fit."

Robinson's mentors and peers alike would suggest his nurturing style of leadership and mild demeanor has been a perfect fit for the Illinois National Guard.

"He cares about what he does and he cares about those that he does it with," said Hayes. "He is organized and methodical in the way he approaches everything."

Opposite of what you may expect from the prototypical sergeant major, Robinson said he always found the good in everybody.

"You have to make everybody feel good about their service, no matter what they do," he said.

Christian Care can help you out this Holiday Season!

Rock Island, IL, November 25–Are you having trouble finding the perfect gift to give to the person who has everything? Christian Care can help you out this Holiday Season. For $20, you can give the gift of a seasonal bouquet of flowers from Colman Florist and Greenhouses every month for a year! Best of all, half the proceeds will go to Christian Care to provide shelter and services for the homeless and for survivors of domestic violence in our community. Not only will you be giving a GREAT gift, you will also be supporting Christian Care! This opportunity only lasts until December 20, so please act quickly!

Every month has its own theme. For example, November features the Harvest Bouquet, February's bouquet is Love Bunch and July offers the Sizzling Summer Bouquet. Each bouquet is sure to bring color, fragrance and beauty to even the darkest day. Becoming a part of this select group allows you access to other great values at Colman. For example, when you buy a half dozen roses, you will receive the second half dozen FREE! You can also opt to trade your monthly bouquet for $10 off a purchase of $35 or more. Do this twice and you've made your original investment back.

For more details, please contact Lindsey at (309)786-5734. Colman Florist and Greenhouses is located at 2754 12th Street, Rock Island, Illinois and in the East Village in Davenport, Iowa. You can also visit them on the web at colmanflorist.com. Monthly bouquets must be redeemed at the Colman location in the state in which you reside.

For more information about Christian Care, please go to their web site at christiancareqc.org.

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