Brooklyn Thompson Receives Full-Ride Scholarship

Brooklyn Thompson, an Empire Beauty School Shamokin Dam graduate, has been awarded the George Bradley Scholarship, which will fully cover her educational costs! Thompson graduated in July 2024 as Student of the Month.

“Words can’t explain how I feel about receiving the award. The fact that I’m the last recipient makes me feel so special,” said Thompson.

At the time of her graduation, it was announced that she was the Student of the Month. Then, she was presented with the check, announcing her as the George Bradley Scholarship Winner. This moment was shared with Thompson’s family members, fellow students, and Empire team members.

“I felt amazed, and I was speechless. I was in shock. I started bawling and I didn’t know what to say. I knew I wasn’t the only one applying or going through personal things. Nothing like this had ever happened to me before. Everything was exciting, and it all hit me at once,” said Thompson.

“My mother even cried because she was surprised by this scholarship. When she saw the amount, she started to cry because nothing like this had ever happened. It felt amazing. I went through so much to get to school. Before I enrolled, my car broke down, and there were personal challenges. I was surprised I even made it to graduation. There were so many times I wanted to quit, but I kept pushing myself. Ending with a bang felt really good and showed me there are more things that I could do in the future. My life became so much better in these nine months of being in school. It feels so good because now I can focus on my career.”

Morgan Nelling, Executive Director at Empire Beauty School Shamokin Dam, was the first recipient of this scholarship and now has the pleasure of awarding it to one of her students.

“Being a former recipient, I know that the scholarship is awarded to someone who truly needs it financially. In her essay, she must have portrayed that quality, along with her dreams and goals for the beauty industry. Brooklyn was everyone’s hype girl. Her personality is so fun and welcoming that I truly believe it will carry her far in her career. It hasn’t been long since she graduated, and I’m already seeing many posts from the salon she is working at, showcasing how well she is doing. Without a doubt, the scholarship committee couldn’t have chosen a better candidate. She is a gem and loves making people feel beautiful. She showed us that throughout her entire education. She works hard outside of school as well to provide the best life she can for her child. Not only myself but my entire staff was thrilled to be a part of presenting her with this amazing achievement. Being the first recipient, awarding our students with this scholarship will always be one of my favorite memories and it is so special to me, but having Brooklyn as the last recipient was like the cherry on top,” said Morgan Nelling.

While attending beauty school, Thompson also worked at Wegmans and cared for her two-year-old son as a single mother. She exemplifies dedication and is truly deserving of this scholarship.

“I’m glad I made friends at school that I could ride there with. I had people helping watch my son, but I eventually got him into daycare. I would go to school all day, work at Wegmans until midnight, and hardly be able to see my son. It was hard and depressing. But now, it’s worth it because I can be with my son every day. He goes to school while I work, and I have time to cook dinner and put him to bed. It was a lot, but I did it,” said Thompson.

From TikTok to beauty school, Thompson channeled her love of beauty into a career in helping others.

“I love watching TikTok videos of people doing lashes, facials, hair, and makeup. I would watch for hours and start to make my own videos. When I was younger, I was bullied about the way I looked. I tried to do my makeup and hair, but I didn’t have anyone to show me how to do it,” said Thompson.

Reflecting on her time at Empire Beauty School, Thompson shared her positive experience.

“It has been so good. I’m so happy that I decided to go to school. I was in a bad place before. In the pre-salon, Miss Meg brought me out of my character. The other students allowed me to be myself. I made so many friends at school that support me. Everything felt really good, to see my friends happy for me,” said Thompson.

Following graduation, Thompson is now working at a salon while she focuses on building her clientele. Her long-term goal is to open a salon, give back to her community, and share her knowledge with others.

“I want to help others with their mental health in beauty school. In my scholarship essay, I wrote that I wanted to do for someone else what was done for me. I want to give someone a scholarship and have them feel what I felt. I always wanted to teach classes to those who can’t afford beauty school. I want to enroll in the Educator Training program,” said Thompson.

Thompson’s motivation is deeply personal, rooted in her desire to create a better life for her son.

“My son is my inspiration. I pushed myself to not struggle like how my parents struggled. I went through so much; I wanted to feel free. I want my son to look at me one day and say, ‘My mom did this.’ My son is the biggest reason why I went to school,” said Thompson.

Thompson has been a hard worker all her life and encourages others to persevere despite challenges.

“No matter what, you will make it. No matter how hard it is, keep pushing through it. It will be better in the end,” said Thompson.

Congratulations to Brooklyn Thompson on receiving the George Bradley Scholarship! We are proud of your dedication to making a significant impact in the beauty industry.

For more information about Empire Beauty School, or how to enroll visit https://bit.ly/LearnMoreAtEmpire