What Scholarships Does Orangeburg Civic Ballet Offer and Who Is Eligible?

Orangeburg Civic Ballet offers three named scholarships, each tied to a different age or education stage: the Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship for ages 9–13, the Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship for ages 14 through high school, and the Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship for collegiate students pursuing dance studies. All three awards are applied directly to tuition, and the application process includes a dance audition. Applications are posted on the OCB Band (Files) once available.

The Three Scholarships at a Glance

The eligibility lines are set by age band and school stage rather than by years of training or prior company membership, based on the organization's published descriptions. The collegiate scholarship is the only one that specifies a field of study—dance—while the two younger scholarships are described by age range alone.

What the Application Involves

Two elements are confirmed by the organization:

1. A dance audition. The process includes an audition, so applicants should expect to be evaluated on their dancing rather than on a written application alone. The published information does not specify the audition format, date, or what candidates should prepare.
2. An application form. Forms "can be found on the OCB Band (Files) once available," which means the organization distributes them through its Band space rather than as a direct download on the website.

Because the forms are described as available "once available," timing matters. If you are planning around a specific season, check the OCB Band (Files) area before assuming an application window is open.

Who Should Consider Each Award

• Families of dancers ages 9–13 should look at the Dr. Ann V. Hurst Memorial Scholarship. This is the youngest eligible group, so it is the entry point for students early in their training.
• Dancers in their teens through high school fall under the Myrtle McDaniel Memorial Scholarship. The range runs from age 14 up to high school completion, covering the years when training intensity and tuition costs typically grow.
• College students studying dance are the audience for the Kelly Blake Evans Memorial Scholarship. This is the only award that requires an explicit dance-studies focus, so applicants should be enrolled in or pursuing collegiate dance work.

A dancer who ages out of one bracket may become eligible for the next, since the three awards form a progression from childhood through college.

Practical Steps Before Applying

1. Confirm your eligibility bracket using the age and school-stage definitions above, and note that the collegiate award requires dance studies.
2. Locate the application on the OCB Band (Files). If nothing is posted, the window has likely not opened yet.
3. Prepare for the audition. Since the audition is part of the process, plan your training schedule around it; the published material does not list audition dates or requirements, so ask the organization directly if those details are not posted.
4. Plan for tuition credit, not a cash payment. All three scholarships are applied directly to tuition, so treat the award as reducing your balance rather than as funds you receive.

Common Questions

Do all three scholarships require an audition? The organization states that the process includes a dance audition without carving out exceptions, so plan on auditioning for any of the three.

Can one dancer hold more than one scholarship? The published information does not address stacking awards, so this is a question for the organization.

Are scholarships need-based? Nothing in the published material describes an income or financial-need test; eligibility is framed by age and school stage.

How much is each award? The organization does not publish award amounts, so the value of each scholarship is not available from its website.

For current deadlines, audition details, and award amounts, contact Orangeburg Civic Ballet directly or watch the OCB Band (Files) for the forms and any accompanying instructions.