The Irish Dance Teacher's Association of North American is proud of the accomplishments of all dancers not only competitively and artistically, but also academically. To recognize the accomplishments of these dancers who excel in the classroom and in the dance studio, the IDTANA is proud to offer $20,000 annually in scholarships for high school senior students, and those students who are already attending college. The Scholarship winners were announced this week at the North American Irish Dance Championships.

        (a) for high school seniors graduating in Spring, 2011 and planning to attend a four-year undergraduate college or university, and

        (b) for students enrolled in a four-year undergraduate college program who will still be enrolled as an undergraduate in a four-year undergraduate college or university during the 11-12 school year.

        Winners will be announced in mid-June with scholarships to be presented at the 2011 North American Championships in Nashville, TN, in July 2011.
The deadline to submit initial applications (PDF) or (WORD) is December 22, 2010.

    The IDTANA Scholarship Committee is comprised of a representative from each of the seven regions in North America. Under the guidance of Russell Beaton ADCRG, who is beginning his thirty-eighth year with the Frederick County (Maryland) Public School System where he is the Curriculum Specialist for Visual and Performing Arts - theIDTANA Scholarship Committee works diligently in identifying the scholarship recipients from the application and essay process.

2010 Winners

Students Already Enrolled in Four-Year College


$2,000 Scholarship winner


Bryn Carroll
Lansdale, PA
Coyle School of Irish Dance
Attends: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Public Health (Pre-med)

$1,000 scholarship winners

Shannon Cantwell
Fairhope, AL
Drake School of Irish Dance
Attends Furman University
Majors: Economics/Political Science

Charles Walck
Black River, NY
Johnston School of Irish Dance
Attends: Syracuse University
Major: Mechanical Engineering

$750 scholarship winner


Hanna Smyth
Richmond, British Columbia
Nora Pickett Irish Dance Academy
Attends: The University of British Columbia
Major: History

Students Entering a Four-Year College $2,000 scholarship winner


Caitlin Cavanaugh
Virginia Beach, VA
An Cor Rud School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The College of William and Mary
Proposed Major: Psychology/Biology

$1,000 scholarship winners

Patrice Lawless
Syracuse, NY
The Boland School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Cornell University
Proposed Major: Undecided

Emily Lingeman
Brookfield, WI
Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The University of Wisconsin at Madison
Proposed Major: Undecided

Eileen O’Brien
Millbury, MA
The McInerney School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The College of the Holy Cross
Proposed Major: Psychology

$750 scholarship winners


Miranda Culley
Cincinnati, OH
McGing Irish Dancers
Plans to attend: Case Western Reserve University
Proposed Majors: Chemistry/Classics

Sarah Donovan
Shrewsbury, MA
The McInerney School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Boston University
Proposed Major: Chemistry

Erin Jefferson
Leawood, KS
O’Riada Academy of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The University of Michigan
Proposed Major: Business

Colleen Ross
Bloomfield Hills, MI
The Tim O’Hare School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Marquette University
Proposed Major: International Relations

Kelsey Ryan
Cincinnati, OH
McGing Irish Dancers
Plans to attend: The University of Notre Dame
Proposed Major: Chemical Engineering

Elizabeth Siewert
Elm Grove, WI
Glencastle Irish Dancers
Plans to attend; The University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)
Proposed Major: Elementary Educationaniel Walsh
Fayetteville, GA
Drake School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Georgia Institute of Technology
Proposed Major: International Affairs and Economics

$500 scholarship winners

Hilary Gorgol
Londonderry, NH
Cunniffe Academy of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: St, Anselm College
Proposed Major: Nursing

Celina Hawkins
Ottawa, Ontario
Sue Fay Healy School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Wilfred Laurier University
Proposed Major: Honours Bachelor of Music (oboe performance)

Erin Hoover
Orchard Park, NY
Clann na Cara Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Boston College
Proposed Major: Politcal Science

Erin Kirkland
Farmington, MI
The Tim O’Hare School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The University of Michigan
Proposed Major: English Language and Literature/Political Science

Meiling May
Hanover, MA
The Nevin Academy of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The College of the Holy Cross
Proposed Major: Biology (Pre-med)

Corinne McCullough
Silver Spring, MD
The Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Davidson College
Proposed Major: Undecided

Carolyn McPherson
August, GA
Rince na h’Eireann
Plans to attend: The Georgia Institute of Technology
Proposed Major: Biomedical Engineering

Stephanie Miller
West Chester, PA
The Campbell Academy of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: The University of Pittsburgh
Proposed Major: Undecided

Megann Mussatti
Franklin, MI
Glencastle Irish Dancers
Plans to attend: The University of Wisconsin at Madison
Proposed Major: Undecided

Ellen O’Leary
Boxford, MA
The Dunleavy-Shaffer School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Harvard University
Proposed Major: English

Caroline Williams
Westfield, NJ
The Marie Moore School of Irish Dance
Plans to attend: Columbia University
Proposed Major: Undecided