Lewiston Dance names scholarship recipients

Rachel Novelli, director of the Lewiston/Grand Island Dance Centers has announced the following students as recipients of dance center scholarships.

Kelsey Oliverio - Lewiston Dance Center Tap Scholarship. Oliverio is an eighth grader at Lewiston-Porter Middle School and has been with Lewiston Dance for seven years. She has enjoyed the fun and challenges the Lewiston Dance teachers have to offer. Oliverio takes tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop, she is also a demonstrator at the studio. Instructors Miss Rachel and Miss Kathy have always treated her with much warmth and kindness. She is absolutely thrilled and proud to be the recipient of this honor.

Emma Okoniewski - Lewiston Dance Center Ballet Scholarship. Okoniewski is an eighth grader at Wilson Middle School. She has been dancing since the age of 2, and was "Clara" in the Greater Niagara Ballet Company's production of "The Nutcracker." Okoniewski has won two medals in dance competitions for Lewiston Dance Center. She enjoys dancing and sports. She is also a part of the JV volleyball and softball teams at Wilson.

Taylor Tubinis - Lewiston Dance Center Jazz Scholarship. Tubinis has been dancing at Lewiston Dance for 10 years. She takes modern, ballet, contemporary, hip-hop and jazz and is also a demonstrator at the studio. Tubinis is also a member of the Lewiston Dance Ensemble, the Lewiston Dance Center's performance and competition team. She is a freshman at Lewiston-Porter High School and is on the high honor Roll. She also plays JV soccer and travel softball.

Lauren DiFonzo - recipient of the Lewiston Dance Center Abbondanza-Gallo Scholarship. DiFonzo has been dancing with Lewiston Dance since she was 4 years old and is now an assistant teacher for the studio. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, musical theater, hip-hop and contemporary. DiFonzo is also a member of the Lewiston Dance Ensemble, the Lewiston Dance Center's performance and competition team. She has participated in dance workshops and recently performed at the Buffalo Dance Festival.

DiFonzo is a senior at Lewiston Porter, where she participated in the Dance Team and is a member of the National Honor Society. She plans on attending Niagara University and minoring in dance.

Deanna Kajfasz - recipient of the Lewiston Dance Center Abbondanza-Gallo Scholarship. Kajfasz is a junior at Niagara Catholic High School. She has been dancing at Lewiston Dance Center for 12 years taking tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary and modern. She is also a member of the Lewiston Dance Ensemble, the Lewiston Dance Center's performance and competition team.

Kajfasz has maintained high honors since her freshman year of high school. As a part of the four-day school week at NC she has been able to take part in an internship at Mount St. Mary's Hospital. She is also involved in a lot of extracurricular activities including: S.A.D.D., T.A.G, Key Club, Ski Club and is president of her junior class. Kajfasz takes part in Niagara Catholic's athletics, including the girls' tennis team, captain of the cheerleading squad and co-captain of girl's varsity soccer.