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NEWS & NOTESBenefit Show Captivates Crowd!
The 2015 ISIA Education Foundation Benefit on Ice Show on July 31, held in conjunction with the ISI World Recreational Team Championships at Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, Ill., was a special treat for all whom attended.
We were fortunate to have the extraordinary 2014 Olympic Gold Champion ice dance team Meryl Davis and Charlie White as our guest skaters.
Talented ISI skaters, selected by Worlds scouts throughout the week, also had the opportunity to perform, as did two lucky skaters — Julia Sudie from Niles Park District IceLand Skate Complex in Niles, Ill., and Alexis Brandstatter from Edge Ice Arena — who won our “Skate with the Stars” raffle. Incidentally, both skaters compete at the FS 4 level.
The Edge Ice Arena’s Theatre Production Team kicked off the spectacular evening with an entertaining production of the “Wizard of Oz.” The first half of the show also included performances by Chrystal Tse from Belmont Iceland in Belmont, Calif., and McKenzie Liboy & Emily Murdach from Niles Park District IceLand Skate Complex in Niles, Ill., who presented their Couples Character Spotlight High.
Kathleen Martinus from RDV Sportsplex Ice Den in Orlando, Fla., performed her gold-medal-winning Open Gold Freestyle program, along with the “Silly Siegels” from Franklin Park, Ill., who entertained the crowd with their family spotlight. Also featured in the first half were our 2015 scholarship recipients, Ashleigh Haslag of Jefferson City, Mo., and Olivia Joyce Smith of Winter Springs, Fla., followed by an amusing Dramatic Spotlight FS10 performance by Matthew Bohannan from the Anchorage Skating Alliance.
Eric Steinhart of Centennial Ice Rinks in Wilmette, Ill., and Robert Johnson of the SuperStars Figure Skating Club of Mount Prospect, Ill., rounded out the first half of the show with crowd-pleasing performances. Steinhart passed his FS 10 test at the start of the week.
Next, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the first-ever U.S. ice dance team to win Olympic Gold, mesmerized the crowd with their flawless performance. Gliding effortlessly on the ice, the pair appeared to be floating magically across the rink. The audience held its breath, delighting in their every move.
Following a brief intermission, ISIA Education Foundation President Donald Bartelson presented our 2015 scholarship winners with their awards: Sara Cuozzo from Natick, Mass; Ashleigh Haslag from Jefferson City, Mo.; and Olivia Joyce Smith from Winter Springs, Fla. Each received a $4,000 scholarship toward their four-year college career.
The Niles Park District IceLand “Hampsters” kicked off the second half of the show with their entertaining Team Compulsory FS 6 routine, followed by Timmy Chapman & Taylor Nordquist from the RDV Sportsplex Ice Den in Orlando, Fla., performing their Open Pairs Gold Program. Show participants also included Richie Stuckey from Rolling Meadows, Ill.; Petyon Webb of St. Peters Rec-Plex, St. Peters, Mo.; our third scholarship recipient, Sara Cuozzo; and Jamie Chandler from the Stephen C. West Ice Arena in Breckenridge, Colo., who dazzled us with her unforgettable Rhythmic Hoop FS 7 program.
The second half of the show also featured performances by Ryan Santee of Oakton Ice Arena, Oakton, Ill.; Emily Murdach of Niles Park District IceLand Skate Complex; and Sharks N Synch from San Jose, Calif. And not to be outdone, ISI’s beloved mascot, Flip, enthused spectators with his Character Spotlight.
Davis and White again returned to the ice for an awe-inspiring number before heading to the lobby for an autograph signing and meet and greet that lasted for an unbelievable two-plus hours! The duo, best described as friendly, down-to-earth and silly at times, was gracious to give so much of their time to ISI skaters and fans. We can’t thank them enough! Our gratitude also goes out to the volunteers, referees, and others who helped make the show a success, in addition to the skaters who shared their wonderful talent.
ISIA Education Foundation
Over the past 55-plus years, the ISI has introduced tens of millions of individuals to the wonderful world of ice skating through its first national learn-to-skate curriculum. ISI’s copyrighted weSKATE recreational figure skating program was developed to create lifelong skaters.
The ISIA Education Foundation was founded in 1989 to enhance the educational opportunities of ISI members. The program encourages ISI skaters to strengthen their minds as well as their bodies, and recognizes skaters’ achievements both on and off the ice.
Contributions to the ISIA Education Foundation, a 501(c) 3 organization separate from the Ice Skating Institute, offer groups and individuals an opportunity to invest in the educational future of ISI skaters. The Foundation welcomes contributions in any amount, whether made periodically or on a one-time basis. Your support of our Benefit Show is greatly appreciated, as it is our largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds benefiting our scholarship program. The show also provides us with a platform to recognize our scholarship recipients each year.
In 2016, the ISIA Education Foundation will continue to accept applications for four-year scholarships, as well as applications for two new categories: one-year scholarships for skaters currently enrolled in a post-secondary institution, and one-year Professional Development stipends. Applications for the 2016-17 school year are available at skateisi.org/foundation. (For application tips, please see page 26.) For more information, email isiaef@skateisi.org or call (972) 735-8800.
