Krowwn Barber Academy celebrated a major milestone Monday evening, honoring its very first graduating class during a formal banquet ceremony at Big Zion AME Zion Church’s Genesis Place.
The event, hosted on the downstairs level of the venue from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, recognized the inaugural 2024–26 cohort under their official class theme: “Celebrating Dedication. Honoring Achievement. Preparing for Legacy.”
As the pioneer class for the institution, these graduates completed a rigorous, 1,500-hour comprehensive curriculum to reach the stage.
Managed under the guidance of licensed instructors at the academy’s 100 South Florida Street facility, the program translates classroom theory directly into supervised, real-world shop experience.
Founded by master barber and community organizer Houston Owens, the Krowwn Barber Academy blueprint grew out of the local roots of Kings Grooming Lounge, which opened in 2020. Owens expanded the vision to establish the academy in 2024 to create structured local career paths. With this landmark first graduation, the institution officially begins executing its core mission: empowering students to master their technical craft, build viable personal brands, and establish lasting entrepreneurial legacies directly within Southwest Alabama.
Following the banquet, the freshly minted graduates are fully prepared to take the Alabama State Barber Licensing Exam to begin launching their professional careers.