2008-2009 Competition Award Recipients

Individual Award Winners

Jessica Lynch 

• Solo 13+over  Dance-Off 2nd Place $150 Cash Scholarship, CanDance Nationals’09
• Overall High Score Solo 13+over - CanDance National Finals
• High Score Solo 13 & over - Kids for Kids, CT
• Katy Spreadbury - High Score solo Choreography
• "Be Discovered"-2008 Summer in L.A. Dance Intensive, $500 scholarship winner

Meghan Gallagher  

• CanDance National Finals, Dance Off Participant 12 & under’08
• High Score Solo (12 & under)-Kids for Kids, CT
• High Score Solo (12 & under)-CanDance, RI, Junior Miss CanDance and Euro-Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI
• Diane Kelley - High Score solo choreography

Amanda Jonaitis

• High score (18 & over) solo, Miss CanDance and Euro Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI
• "Be Discovered"-2009 New York City $500 dance scholarship winner
• CanDance National Finals, Dance Off Participant 13 & over

Ryan Gallivan  

• Junior Mr. CanDance of America 2009
• High Score solo (Age 7-9) CanDance & Kids for Kids, Junior Mr. CanDance and Euro Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI
• 1st place Ballet, DMA scholarship
• Stand Out Artist in Hip Hop, $250 scholarship, NUVO

Katie Grenier  

• Breakout Artist Award & Soul Escape scholarship, NUVO
• "Be Discovered"-2008 New York City $500 dance scholarship winner
• Teen Miss CanDance and Euro Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI

Shelby Leger  

• Junior Miss CanDance and Euro Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI
• 3rd Place in Titles at CanDance Nationals, Boston 2009
• 1st place Jazz scholarship winner at DMA

Catherine Nicholson  

• Miss CanDance and Euro Package scholarship winner, CanDance, RI

Emma LeBlanc  

• Breakout Artist Award & Soul Escape scholarship, NUVO

Jade Young  

• Stand Out Artist in Jazz, Soul Escape scholarship winner, NUVO

Meredith Hohman  

• Stand Out Artist in Hip Hop, $250 scholarship, NUVO

Jessica Murray  

• 1st place Tap, DMA scholarship

 
Graduating Seniors 2009

	Jessica Lynch is graduating from Notre Dame Academy this year and is thrilled to be attending American University of Paris in the fall.  She has been dancing for fifteen years, the past six at the Diane Kelley Dance Studio. Jess teaches and assists with classes at DKDS, as well as Girls Inc. of Worcester where she has been volunteering for the past two years teaching jazz classes to young girls.  Jess has been awarded national titles including ADA's Junior Dancer of the Year and Teen Dance of America, Dance Masters of America.  Outside of the studio, Jess enjoys traveling and making movies with her sister and friends. She will miss seeing the familiar faces in the studio everyday but wishes the best of luck to all!
	Shawna Brierly will be graduating from Quabbin Regional High School this year and will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall. She has been dancing at the Diane Kelley Dance Studio for 16 years and has assisted and taught classes for the past year. At school she is a member of the National Honor Society, Blue/Gold Key Society, and Best Buddies.  Shawna is looking forward to majoring in Civil Engineering next year but is very sad to be leaving the studio and wishes everyone the best of luck!
	Katie Hutchins is currently a senior at Wachusett Regional High School. She's been dancing since she was two; the last four with the Diane Kelley Dance Studio. Katie expressed her love of dance since day one and her passion has only grown over the years. Katie will be attending Dean College next year where she will continue dancing. She's very excited about school but will also miss the studio and her friends. Katie said she has grown through her experience at DKDS and would like to thank Diane personally as well as all the other staff members. She would also like to thank her parents for all their support along the way and wishes the best of luck to all her fellow seniors next year.
	Amanda Jonaitis is a senior at Wachusett High School and plans to attend Florida State University where she'll be double-majoring in Dance and Communications in the fall. She's been dancer at DKDS for 13 years and brings her joyfulness every day to the studio and to each routine she has been part of over the years. When she's not doing what she loves best Amanda participates in Best Buddies, National Honor Society and is employed at the Wachusett Country Club. Amanda is looking forward to moving on but will miss all her friends and dancers at DKDS….and we'll miss our "Mary Poppins".
	Jaime Mellecker is a senior at Wachusett Regional High School Class of 09 and has been a student at DKDS for the past 9 years; which she describes as the best years of her life. Jaime will be attending Worcester State College next year majoring in early childhood education and plans on pursuing a career in teaching.  She is also an active member of Student Council, SADD, and Freshman Mentoring at Wachusett. Outside of dance Jaime models for Myers Photography Studio and is a certified Zumba Instructor. Over the past year Jaime has done an amazing job as a teacher's assistant and always brings a smile and her keen sense of humor to the studio. DKDS will miss Jaime as much as we know she'll miss us!
	Meredith Hohman is a senior at St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg. She's been dancing since the age of three and this is her first year at Diane Kelley Dance Studio. Meredith will be attending Bentley University in the fall to pursue a degree in business, and will also be continuing in dance. She'd like to thank Diane and all of DKDS, especially the green team, for making this the best year ever! Meredith would like to wish good luck to all of the seniors and she'll miss all of you!
	Danielle Snay has been dancing for 15 years and 14 of them have been at DKDS!! She is president of the Youth Group at Our Lady of Good Council Church and is a member of the National Honor Society at West Boylston Jr./Sr. High School. She works at Shannon's Pizza and is a joy to have around. We'll miss her very much at DKDS!