
Gateway receives Excellence in Education Award from Massage Envy
Gateway Community & Technical College's massage therapy program received the sixth annual Excellence in Education Award presented by Massage Envy.
The Excellence in Education award is designed to recognize strategic partnerships with outstanding schools who exhibit a commitment to moving the massage profession forward, innovating on their role as a massage school, and graduating best-in-class massage therapists.
“This award is an honor for our massage therapy program at Gateway,” said Lance Nelson, Associate Professor, Massage Therapy, Gateway Community & Technical College. “This award will help provide program exposure which will assist with the recruitment of future students in the tristate, meeting the demands from the workforce.”
Massage Envy locations nominate school partners with a reputation for developing highly sought after graduates. Nominated schools also implement creative approaches to address common institutional problems and are advocates within the massage, skin care, and/or spa professions.
A total of six schools were selected by a committee at Massage Envy to receive the national award. Award winners will be recognized at Massage Envy’s Excellence in Education conference being held on April 25, in Grapevine, Texas.
“Massage Envy is proud to partner with the best national massage schools,” said Sandee Mentrup, Massage Envy, Director, School Partnerships and Therapist Training, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia. “We are working together to better the educational opportunities through scholarships, mentoring and continuing education programs.”
Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor and, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage and skincare services. The Massage Envy franchise system is, collectively, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,150 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 100 million massages and facials.
“The massage industry is gaining respect in the healthcare field. We are on track, as verified by the National Labor Board, for a 27 percent overall increase for licensed therapists over the next five to seven years,” said Mentrup. “Massage Envy is excited to watch the Gateway Massage Program grow and meet the needs of the community!”