By Brenda Pike

 In just over five years, Terry Delp has helped to create a cosmetology program that is recognized within the local community for producing excellent graduates. 

 “We have salons that only deal with PBCC students, and we can’t have a better recommendation than that,” said Delp, who is a PSAV instructor and one of the founding department members of the cosmetology program at Palm Beach Community College.

 According to Associate Dean of Trade & Industry, Sal Manuele, positive industry and student opinion are the highest form of flattery for the cosmetology program. 

 “Over the years I have been an administrator, I have seen many of our students lives change because of our program.  That comes back to us in many ways,” said Manuele.  “We want to give back to our professions.”

 Delp doesn’t have to look far for an example of a student satisfaction.  He keeps the reminder in his office in the form of a special wedding photo of a former cosmetology student.  Delp and his wife were invited to the Mt. Dora ceremony and were surprised to be seated at the head table among honored guests and family members.

 Delp recalled the groom rose and toasted him saying, “Mr. Delp, you know why you’re here.  Thank you for changing my life.”  That kind of recommendation is what makes hopeful students line up for an opening in the program.

 There are a total of 75 coveted cosmetology spots and no advertising needs to be done to fill them.  In fact, the reputation of quality in PBCC’s cosmetology program has spread entirely by word of mouth.  According to Delp, the program is recognized for being structured, organized, comprehensive, and concerned about the time cohesion or class rotations.

 Enrollment is not open which means a student cannot come in and take a class out of rotation.  Students stay together and go through the system as a class.  “We all function as a group.  We are given the freedom here—given the keys to develop,” he said.

 As a hair care expert, Delp demands a lot for that freedom.  Students must complete 108 hours in each individual course to graduate.  He is a stickler.  Students know he has high expectations and they rise to the challenge.  They know clocking 107 hours or missing more than 2 classes can affect their graduation, but they also think he is fair as well as professionally demanding.

 “He wants all students to be the best they possibly can be and he pushes us to meet our goals,” said Melissa Lovett, a Spring 2007 graduate.  “He is a great teacher with great teaching capabilities.  It is a good education and very hands on!” 

  “I want the expectations higher than the student, community, and profession think [they should be].  I believe the college and the cosmetology department have set the bar,” Delp said. “We want to prepare the students to enter the work force fully prepared.” 

 One example of this top notch preparation is found in the array of quality hair products students use.  “Our students use six to eight top-of-the-line spa products which is unusual.  Most beauty schools are lucky to have students work with one high-end product,” said Delp. 

 He points out that PBCC’s cosmetology students use such name brand products as Redken and Paul Mitchell.  Students, Delp said, also have the Cadillac of facial and pedi-spa equipment at the college, and he emphasizes the fact that the college doesn’t skimp when spending on the program.  Delp said students seem to know what a good buy the education is at PBCC.

 PBCC’s commitment to a successful cosmetology program is what initially captured Delp, too.

 “They know how fortunate they are to have all these toys and equipment.  This is Disneyworld for cosmetologists,” Delp said.  He also isn’t shy about his love of teaching and passing the creative spark to his students.  “I like to teach and I have some natural abilities.”

 Those natural abilities helped Delp earn his Associate’s degree from Wesley College in Delaware and his Bachelor’s degree from Albright College in Pennsylvania before he went to beauty college.

 Delp is also a hair replacement and hair enhancement specialist and attended a Redken Professional School—the same school as his cosmetologist mother. He learned his profession watching her as she ran her own beauty shops in Pennsylvania and Florida.

 “The shop was part of our home and I shampooed when I was home from college—under duress,” Delp joked.

 It’s likely his mother, Janet, an astute business woman that she is, saw something in her son.  She told him after he graduated from college that she would pay to send him to beauty school, too.  He went, and today he teaches students his brand of creativity and good business skills.

 “My mom was ahead of her time,” Delp said. “She had the same three girls on her staff.  They had salary, commission, health benefits, and vacation.”

 And therein lays one of the many life lessons he passes on to his students today: Treat those under you fairly and with respect and they will be loyal and to make the job fun and creative, too.

 Jennifer Casella, a Spring 2007 graduate, said that is why she is so impressed with Delp.  “We have amazingly talented, hard-working and caring teachers—wonderful role models that make all their teachings fun, interesting, and hands-on experiences.  Mr. Delp is very enthusiastic and makes our career a hobby.”

 The best testament to his teaching and communication skill might be his own family.  He is celebrating his 30^th wedding anniversary and both of his college-graduate children have absorbed their father’s creativity.  His daughter, Jennah, is a master level operatic singer and conductor, and son Jordan is an actor.

 He is proud of all the lives he touches and keeps an open door to graduates and students.

 “They come back and I check up on my students.  I will go visit them and talk to their employer,” Delp said.  It is his way to make improvements and stay creative. 

 Perhaps, Delp’s teaching success and degree of professionalism stems from his background helping in his mother’s beauty shop, a good dose of Pennsylvania Dutch work ethic, his degree of involvement, and “creativity, creativity, creativity.”  Whatever the key ingredient, it is obvious that Delp motivates his students to be their best.  His graduates are turning heads and are the type of cosmetologists shops are looking to hire.