2026 Aura Salonware Scholarship winners (from left to right): Imogen-Icela Wyatt, Jennifer Barnes, and Amy Chaves. Photo courtesy of Aura Salonware.
Aura Salonware is stepping up for the beauty industry in a meaningful way. The salon software company just announced the winners of its inaugural 2026 scholarship program, developed in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association. Unlike other scholarship programs, this one was built to meet beauty professionals exactly where they are.
Three categories, three winners, three different stages of a beauty career. Whether just starting out in school, leveling up as a licensed professional, or launching a brand-new business, Aura designed this program with the full arc of a beauty career in mind. As Lori Obiedzinski, Aura’s Director of Client and Partner Relations, puts it: “The Aura Scholarship program is not just about financial support; it’s about empowering dreams and fostering a community where every current and future beauty professional has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.”
The Winners
Imogen-Icela Wyatt, a student at Paul Mitchell The School Colorado Springs, took home the first-time student scholarship – an award open to beauty, barber, nail, and esthetics students across North America. “Accepting this scholarship means overcoming hardship, striving for greatness, and always looking forward to the next step,” she shared. “Receiving this inspires me even more by knowing that my efforts will go far and I can earn my way to success.”
Jennifer Barnes of Kennesaw, Georgia, currently pursuing her instructor license at Paul Mitchell The School Esani, won the continuing education scholarship for licensed professionals. “This scholarship validates the passion and hard work I’ve poured into both my education and my career in the beauty industry,” Barnes said. “It allows me to continue growing as a stylist and educator, while opening doors to opportunities that will help me impact others through confidence, creativity, and education.”
Amy Chaves, owner of Key to Beauty in Taunton, Massachusetts, claimed the salon owner scholarship – designed to support newer beauty businesses with tools and services to grow their operations. Chaves plans to put her award toward a new front desk computer system to support her salon’s upgraded Aura POS system. “This will streamline checkouts, improve booking efficiency, and elevate the overall client experience at our front desk,” she said – a practical, purposeful investment in the business she’s building.
Three winners, one clear message: the beauty industry is worth investing in at every level. To learn more about how Aura can elevate your beauty career, visit aurasalonware.com.
