Kisha James, a graduate of the Cosmetology program at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education Center (WE-MO-CO), has placed first at the Skills USA/VICA (Vocational and Industrial Clubs of America) International Trials at the Midwest Beauty Show in Chicago and will now go on to compete at the International Competition in Korea this September.

James, who is now employed at Hair Embassy Salon in Rochester, returned to Chicago to study with the Swedish Women's Hairstyling Champion and will return to train with him twice more before the International Competition. "It is unbelievable the level of training Kisha is at now," said her WE-MO-CO instructor Laurie Salladin. "It's a whole step beyond what we've been doing together to this point."

James, 20, will travel to Washington in September with the rest of the U.S. Team to meet with a VICA representative, then go on to Korea, where she will attend the opening ceremonies, competition and awards ceremony. Her trip and training are sponsored by Pivot Point International, a cosmetics education company.

After the International Competition, James plans to compete in the Youth Olympics for vocational students and in professional competitions. Her instructor compares Kisha's success in the VICA competitions to being "discovered." "Kisha can go anywhere she wants from here," said Salladin.