Scholarships/Grants

SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS

Scholarships:

1. NDEO National Conference Scholarship for MDEA Members

In keeping with the mission to support further study and professional growth in dance and dance education, MDEA is offering a scholarship to MDEA members to cover the conference registration fee for an upcoming NDEO Conference.

Scholarships will be funded in the amount of the early-bird conference registration fee.

Deadline to apply: 2026 Deadline - May 25, 2026

Link to NDEO National Conference Scholarship Page

2. MDEA Conference Attendance Scholarship

In keeping with the mission to recognize and encourage professional development activities and participation in professional conferences, MDEA is offering scholarships to at least three (3) qualified applicants to help defray the registration expense associated with attending the MDEA Annual Conference.

View the eligibility and guidelines on the application.

Deadline to apply: TBD

Link to MDEA Conference Attendance Scholarship

3. Continued Dance Studies Scholarship

In keeping with the mission to support further study in dance and dance education, MDEA is offering scholarships to high school, undergraduate, graduate students, and working professionals studying dance. Scholarships will be funded up to a $800.00 maximum. Applicants must attend a school or studio with an active MDEA membership.

Please review the eligibility and guidelines for the application.

Deadline to apply for 2026 is April 24, 2026.

Link to Continued Dance Studies Scholarship

Grants:

In keeping with its goal to support and encourage MDEA membership as they seek to develop and conduct school and community programs in Dance, MDEA announces the availability of “grants.” Each grant request can be funded up to a $1000 maximum.

Grant proposals must promote the mission of MDEA, make certain that you review the mission prior to completing the application. Grants will be assessed using the following criteria:

Applications must be submitted by MDEA members and use the current format.
The project must relate to dance education initiatives that support and or promote the mission and vision of MDEA and may not include requests for travel or for professional development.
Equipment will become the property of the site housing the project.
The project must benefit students or members of the community in Maryland.
The project must be innovative and/or should supplement or enhance the existing school, recreational, studio, and/or community programs.
The project must be approved by the applicant’s supervisor, based on the structure of the organization, as indicated by the appropriate signature on the application.
Priority will be given to first-time applicants and/or innovative programs.
If the project is funded, the MDEA member must maintain their MDEA membership for the duration of the awarded project.
If the project is funded, the applicant must either:
1. write an article for a MDEA publication (i.e. MDEA eNewsletter), reporting upon the efficacy of the project. This should be submitted within one year of the date funding.
2. present the project at a future MDEA Conference. The presentation should be given within one year of the funding date.

Link to MDEA Project Grant

2025 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarship

Danil England

NDEO Conference Scholarships

Jill Vasbinder Morrison

Darryl Pilate

Chloe Conway

Bayardo Martinez

2024 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarships

Anabel Flores - Connections Academy

Martina Flores - Connections Academy

Elizabeth Mulinde - St. Paul's School for Girls

Emily O'Steen - The John Carroll School

Rachel Saacks - The John Carroll School

Lauren Stewart - E-Street Dance Academy (Dance Studio) St. Paul's School for Girls (High School)

Alaina Tary - University of Northern Colorado

NDEO Conference Scholarships

Ashley Gunter - Towson University

Elizabeth Higgins - Howard Community College

Darryl Pilate - BCPS

Lacey Sheppard - AACPS/Towson University

MDEA Grant Program

Dr. Adrienne Clancy, ClancyWorks Dance Company

Suzie Henneman & Karen Kuebler - Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase

2023 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarships

Connor Harman - Pace University

Chloe Marshall - Wicomico High School

Sage Sarai - Carver Center for Arts Technology

Reed Thomas - Bowie High School

Kendall Willis - Towson University

NDEO Conference Scholarships

Bri Aldridge, Kaitlyn Brune, Kelly Gogliuzza, Caitlyn Haslam, Marley Piechowiak, Emily Wampler - Towson University

MDEA Grant Program

Kellie Greer - The Dance Center of Severna Park

Suzie Henneman & Karen Kuebler - Maryland Public High School Dance Showcase

Racquel Peters - Leith Walk Elementary/ Middle School

Candice Webster -Towson University Community Dance

2022 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarships

Caroline Voultepsis - Rutgers University

Christiana Wozniak - Towson University

NDEO Conference Scholarships

Jenna Nelson, Taylor Richardson, Summer Salyer, Elizabeth Sterling, and Baylee Wong - Towson University

MDEA Grant Program

Lisa Swenton-Eppard -- Percussion Discussion (Capitol Tap and District Tap)
Rolanda Williams -- The Tunbridge School
Suzanne E Henneman -- MD Public High School Dance Showcase and All-State Dance

2021 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarship

College/University

Bri'Asha Aldridge, Towson University
Jennifer Leung Johnson, Montclair State University
Rush Johnston, Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University
Christopher Miller, Towson University
Taylor Richardson, Towson University
High School

Connor P Harman, Mount Hebron High School

MDEA Grant Program

Dr. Adrienne Clancy, ClancyWorks Dance Company

Nicole Martinell, Deep Vision Dance Company
Liz Quiñones, Kinetics Dance Theatre
Natasha Tyler, Brooklyn Park Middle School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Candice Webster, Towson University Community Dance

2020 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarship

College/University
Kerry Johnson, Towson University
High School

Sage Evans-Rainey, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Caroline Voultepsis, St. Paul's School for Girls

NDEO National Conference Attendance Scholarship

Shonnita Johnson, Laurel High School

MDEA Grant Program

Dr. Adrienne Clancy, ClancyWorks Dance Company
Karen Kuebler, Pinewood and Timonium Elementary Schools
Serene Webber, Notre Dame Preparatory School
Shonnita Johnson, Laurel High School

2019 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarship

College/University
Liz Quiñones, Hollins University
Nicole Blades, Goucher College
High School

Camyrn Little, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

Cree Seaunarine, St. Paul's School for Girls

Amara Brooks, St. Paul's School for Girls

Elizabeth Sterling, Queen Anne's County High School

NDEO National Conference Attendance Scholarship

Tiffany Alasantos, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School

MDEA Grant Program

Darryl Pilate, High Point High School

2018 MDEA Grants/Scholarship Winners:

Continued Studies Scholarship

College/University
Madeline Maxine Gorman, Towson University
Ashley Anderson, Towson University
High School
Morgan Young, Hereford High School
Gabriella E. Clark, The John Carroll School

MDEA Conference Attendance Scholarship

Franki Graham, LucidBeings Dance/Annapolis PVA

MDEA Grant Program

Maria Royals, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology