Congratulations to our CT State scholarship recipient of 2018, Hailey Coleman! Hailey is from Oxford, CT and graduated from Oxford High School. She will be attending Emanuel College in Boston this coming fall. When we spoke with Hailey she said, “I am still in complete awe about being the Connecticut recipient of the Victoria Soto Scholarship. My application essay for the scholarship highlighted the recent stigma surrounding the education field and the lack of unity within it. To be the recipient of a scholarship that is built on the foundation of love and kindness and passion for education is truly remarkable. Knowing that I have the support of the Soto family behind me is a driving force for my inspiration to be the most exceptional educator I can be. At my senior award ceremony, Matthew and Jillian told me that once I sat down, they could see Vicki in me through the passion I had for education. I will spend my entire career working to hold half of the amount of dedication and passion and heart that Vicki had for her job and her students. To be compared to such a miraculous person is something that brought tears to my eyes.”
We are so thrilled to have Hailey as part of the VSMF family and know that she will have tremendous accomplishments in the field of education. Right now, Hailey is planning her big move to Boston. She said, “I have been in love with the city for as long as I can remember; being able to study there is something beyond my wildest dreams. I am attending Emmanuel College as an Elementary Education major. My biggest challenge with moving into the city is being able to find an outlet to continue dancing. With great heartbreak, I had to say goodbye to my dance studio, Kicks Dance Center, of 15 years. Through this studio I have built life-long friendships and have attained superb technique. This studio has given me more experiences and challenges then I can count. Through their support, I have already made my first visit to Radio City Music Hall last summer and completed a 3-day intensive under the Radio City Rockettes. I hope one day I will have the ability to invite my instructors to my debut show as a Radio City Rockette! Fingers crossed that my dream may one day come to fruition!!”
We wish Hailey all the best this fall with her freshman year of college. We hope she attains all of her dreams! Aim high Hailey!
