Scholarships

A scholarship fund established in 1981 by an anonymous donor in the name of her mother, Alice Walton Call, for Ballet BFA majors. The donor donated her house to the University of Utah with the desire that the proceeds from the sale would be used to establish this endowed scholarship fund. The anonymous donor was a long admirer of Mr. Willam Christensen and ballet and wanted to continue the development of fresh talent and excellence. In making the gift, the donor sought to honor her mother, Alice Walton Call, who dearly loved beautiful things (and what is more beautiful than ballet?).

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A scholarship fund established in 1983 by the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation for Ballet BFA majors to enable the School to become more competitive in recruiting and retaining truly exceptional ballet majors. Dolores Doré Eccles was greatly admired for her genuine interest in helping others. Known affectionately by her family and friends as "Lolie," she was a spirited individual with a wonderful sense of humor. Born and raised in Texas as a "Southern belle," Lolie became a devoted citizen of Utah after her marriage in 1925 to Logan native George S. Eccles, whom she met while both were students at Columbia University in New York.

While George became a leader in the nation's banking industry as CEO of First Security Corp. (now Wells Fargo), Lolie focused her talents and energies as an active board member and community benefactor, assisting many educational institutions and non-profit organizations. For more than 57 years, the couple worked together "to improve the quality of life for their fellow citizens," a charitable vision their Foundation now carries on in their behalf.

This endowment is thanks to the tireless efforts of Enid B. Cosgriff who spearheaded an effort to establish multiple endowed scholarships for Ballet BFA majors at the University of Utah.

A scholarship fund established in 1980 by gifts from Enid B. Cosgriff and additional donors for Ballet BFA majors. In the early 1950’s, Enid Cosgriff founded the Ballet Society which supported the then new Department of Ballet at the University of Utah. This organization resulted in the establishment of the Utah Civic Ballet, now Ballet West. During this time, Enid brough many artists from around the world to help the fledgling Utah company succeed. Enid was known as the “right-hand” of Willam F. Christensen, founder of the San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, and former Department of Ballet at the University of Utah.

Enid served on the University of Utah Business School Advisory board as well as serving on the University’s National Advisory Board. She was a major benefactor to Ballet West, the Utah Symphony Orchestra, University Hospital, Utah Shakespearean Festival, and other service and arts organizations. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Utah in 1989.

Enid served as president and general manager of the Salt Lake City Bees baseball team. She was recognized as the first woman in professional baseball to assume the responsibilities of general manager. In 1988, she received one of the highest honors bestowed by the Catholic Church when Pope John Paul II created her a Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. She was financially and personally involved in many activities for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake.

Starting in 1979, Enid spearheaded an effort to establish multiple endowed scholarships for Ballet BFA majors at the University of Utah. Many of the endowed scholarships currently at the University of Utah were thanks to Enid’s tireless efforts.

Two scholarship funds established in 1979 and 1982 by the Eskridge Foundation to benefit Modern Dance BFA majors and Ballet BFA majors, respectively. The Eskridge Foundation donated to many organizations including departments at the University of Utah College of Fine Arts (Department of Art & Art History, Department of Theatre, and the School of Dance) and the College of Architecture.

Two scholarship funds established in 1979 and 1983 by the Herbert I. and Elsa B. Michael Foundation to benefit Ballet BFA majors and Modern Dance BFA majors, respectively. The Foundation aims to support the promotion of education, the advancement of health and scientific achievements, and the prevention of cruelty to children. They are especially interested in giving to programs that encourage secondary and higher education as well as cultural programs.

These endowments are thanks to the tireless efforts of Enid B. Cosgriff who spearheaded an effort to establish multiple endowed scholarships for School of Dance majors at the University of Utah.

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A scholarship fund established in 1982 in memory of Joseph M. Lebrizzi designated for Ballet BFA majors. Joseph Lebrizzi passed away in the early part of 1981. He was involved in the Biochemistry Lab in Research Park. He graduated form the University of Utah in 1962 in chemistry and had interest in that area as well as ballet, music, and the arts. With the settlement of his estate, Joseph’s family established endowed scholarships in both the School of Dance and the School of Music.

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A scholarship fund established in 1983 by Olga V. Alexandria Logan for Ballet BFA majors. Olga Logan gave generously to multiple organizations. She gave with an emphasis to further the education of young women with a desire to study business, law, medicine, ballet, and theatre. She also gave with an emphasis on orphaned young women seeking higher education, or young women whose parents were not able to provide her with the means to obtain such additional education.

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A scholarship fund established in 1980 by Enid B. Cosgriff in the name of Walter E. Cosgriff to benefit Ballet BFA majors. Walter Cosgriff graduated from the University of Utah in 1936 and later returned to teach a course in finance. Walter unexpectedly died in a car crash in 1961. At the time of his death, Walter was president of the Continental Bank and Trust Company and principal owner of the Salt Lake Bees baseball team. Walter participated in Catholic philanthropic works throughout the Salt Lake diocese. Walter’s wife, Enid Cosgriff, was a influential figure in the Salt Lake ballet community—helping in the creation of both the former Department of Ballet at the University of Utah and Ballet West.

This endowment is thanks to the tireless efforts of Enid B. Cosgriff who spearheaded an effort to establish multiple endowed scholarships for Ballet BFA majors at the University of Utah.

Bené Arnold Endowed Scholarship Fund

Anne Riordan, Professor Emeriti, taught in the Department of Modern Dance from 1972 - 1997. She was an artistic giant. A transformative teacher in both non-major and major classes, Anne took students on a magical, exhilarating journey of discovery and in doing so, deeply impacted their lives. Her course, Dance: A Creative Process, which she taught for many years, was legendary. Students begged to be able to enroll. Working with students from every walk of life (including from most of the athletic teams), Anne demanded honesty, commitment and rigorous, full participation – and she got it. When Anne’s name comes up in arts circles around the community, one thought predominates — "Dance is for everyone."  That was her mantra, her motto and her life. Anne stated, “I wanted to make a difference in people's lives, and it seems they have made a difference in mine. All I did in life was want to share dance; I wanted to share something that was so dear to me.”

A dance major at the University of Utah at the exciting time when Utah’s modern dance companies were just forming, Anne moved to New York to pursue a career in dance. Unfortunately, her career was cut short when she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in her mid-20s. She returned to Salt Lake City and earned a degree in special education and made a career of taking the joy of dance to diverse populations, pioneering methods and practices for people with both mental and physical disabilities and integrating movement exploration into all aspects of learning.

Anne taught dance and designed courses at the University of Utah for more than thirty-five years to dance majors and non-majors. She founded two dance companies, Sunrise Dance Company for physically and mentally challenged adults, and Sunrise Wheels for wheelchair bound dancers. With these two companies, Anne choreographed 48 dances, which her companies performed throughout the US. Her groundbreaking work is the subject of six documentary films and several major publications, and her work in special education became a national model.

Anne is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Dance Association Plaudit Award, a Presidential Scholar Award, the Utah Dance Organization’s Lifetime Contribution to the Art of Dance Award, the Distinguished Teaching Award from the University of Utah, the Utah Professor of the Year Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the prestigious Madeleine Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts and Humanities.

A scholarship fund established in 1989 by Cordelia Marvin Quick and John Quick in memory of their daughter, Cordelia Mary Quick, for Modern Dance BFA majors. The Quick’s gave with an emphasis on students who may later pursue a course of study in the College of Education to become a certified teacher.

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A scholarship fund established in 1985 by Elizabeth R. Hayes for scholarship aid for talented graduate students majoring in the Modern Dance MFA. Elizabeth’s teaching career at the University of Utah spanned 48 years, most of these years she was Director and Chair of the former Department of Modern Dance. She founded and built the department, adding the dance major in 1953. She developed a high school certification program for the state and placed all the teachers for many years.

Elizabeth was one of five pioneers, fondly called the "Vintage Ladies", who collaborated to develop modern dance departments throughout the U.S.. She twice served as president of the National Dance Association, and was a charter member and President of the National Council of Dance Administrators. Her lifetime of work earned her 23 honors and awards given nationally, by the University and by the State of Utah.

The Hayes Christensen Theatre in the Marriott Center for Dance was named after Elizabeth.

A scholarship fund established on behalf and in memory of Joyce Ellsworth Rapp to help defray educational costs for undergraduate students pursuing a degree in the Modern Dance BFA. Throughout her life, Joyce Ellsworth Rapp was dedicated to the rich and contemporary dance culture that the former Department of Modern Dance inspired at both the University of Utah and in the greater Utah dance community.

Joyce developed a love of dance which she pursued at the University of Utah and continued to enjoy and advocate for throughout her life. This included membership in and service to: WIGS, Five Fools, Sewing Club, Owl and Fork, numerous Bridge Clubs, The Town Cub, The Alta Club, The Country Club, The Cottonwood Club, The Salt Lake Junior League, Women's Legislative Council, League of Women Voters, Planned Parent-hood, Ladies Democratic Club, and serving on the board of the Utah Museum of Modern Art.

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A scholarship fund established in 1989 by Dr. Sherman A. Wengerd and Florence Mather Wengerd in memory of their son, Tim Wengerd, for students majoring in either the Modern Dance BFA or Modern Dance MFA. Tim Wengerd graduated magna cum laude with a degree in dance from the University of Utah in 1969. Tim helped form Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) in 1965 and choreographed 10 works before leaving the company in 1973 to dance with the world-famous Martha Graham Dance Company in New Mexico. In 1982 he left that company to pursue an independent career as an artist, teacher and choreographer before his untimely death in 1989.

Loabelle Black Mangelson-Clawson Endowed Scholarship Fund

A scholarship fund created in 2025 by the family of Adjunct Professor Maggie Wright Tesch to benefit students majoring in the Ballet BFA. The scholarship fund was established to celebrate the life and legacy of beloved Maggie Wright Tesch.

Maggie Wright Tesch first came to Utah as a scholarship student studying ballet at the University of Utah. She was a Ballet West artist for 18 years, spending 12 of those years as Principal Artist. She joined the faculty of the University of Utah Ballet in 2006 where she taught ballet majors for nearly 20 years.

Maggie was particularly passionate about supporting the next generation of dancers. She was an American Ballet Theater Certified Teacher, Director of the U’s Ballet Summer Intensive, pioneered the Ballet West/University of Utah joint trainee program, served as Recruitment Director for ballet, developed ballet pedagogy curriculum, and supported opportunities for dancers to perform in historical works. An enduring champion of student success, she knew firsthand the impact of scholarships for dancers from all backgrounds, particularly those who would not pursue higher education without them.

Maggie's legacy will live on through the dancers she so passionately mentored, taught, and supported.

A scholarship fund established in 1979 by the Etta Keith Eskridge Trust Fund and Emerson Sturdevant for scholarships benefiting students majoring in the Ballet BFA.

A scholarship fund established in 2024 by the School of Dance administrative staff using unrestricted funds given as a legacy gift by Elizabeth Hayes that had previously been set aside by the former Department of Modern Dance for scholarships benefiting students majoring in the Modern Dance BFA.