Gemma Lopez
2025-2026 Hilda J. Pace
Scholarship Recipient
in memory of my beautiful mother

Gemma has been dancing with us since she was a little girl.  I can remember when she would come to class week after week, and she would sit on the speaker and just take everything in while picking at her tights.  Then months later she got up on that big stage and danced her heart out and has not stopped dancing since then.  Now, Gemma proudly stands alongside her classmates both in the classroom and on stage at recital, and not only does she perform her dance but she sings the lyrics!  We have absolutely loved watching her growth.  She is the definition of pure joy and what is possible when you believe that anyone can do anything. "All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody that believes in them."-Magic Johnson

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