Winners of 2015 Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship announced 

Paso Robles Daily News

April 14, 2015

Annually awarded scholarship supports attendance at summer ballet programs

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County (CFSLOCO) is pleased to announce that Lauren Wood of Paso Robles and Virginia Harding of San Luis Obispo are this year’s recipients of the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship for 2015. The Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship was established in 2012 by the Thoma family to help local dancers realize their dreams. The scholarship provides support for dancers to attend intensive summer ballet programs.

Wood, 16, is a student at Mission College Preparatory High School. She has studied dance for over seven years and performed with the North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation. The Thoma Scholarship will enable her to participate in the Long Beach Ballet’s 2015 Summer Intensive and Dresden Tour this summer.

Harding, also 16, attends the Classical Academy in San Luis Obispo. She has trained as a dancer for 11 years, starting at the age of five. She has performed with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo and the Santa Barbara State Street Ballet. Harding will use her scholarship to attend the summer intensive program at Ballet Magnificant in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship is now in its third year. “It is truly inspiring to see the level of commitment these young people have to their art”, said CFSLOCO Chief Executive Officer, Heidi McPherson. “The decision was so difficult for the committee this year that they decided to award two scholarships rather than one, as they have in the past.”

The Community Foundation has supported our county with grants totaling more than $26 million. The foundation’s assets under management have grown to more than $48 million, and provide support to all aspects of our community in perpetuity. For more information or to donate to any fund, visit their website or call (805) 543-2323.

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