SOAFI Awards Over $790,000 in Scholarships to Dreyfoos School of the Arts Students

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West Palm Beach, FL - The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation (SOAFI) proudly celebrated the achievements and bright futures of Dreyfoos School of the Arts (DSOA) students at its annual Scholarship Ceremony, awarding more than $790,000 in scholarships to over 190 students.

These scholarships support both underclassmen and graduating seniors, providing summer institute opportunities for younger students and college funding for seniors as they prepare for the next chapter of their academic and artistic journeys.

This year’s awards included over 30 significant named scholarships made possible through the generosity of dedicated donors, alumni, and community partners. Among the highlights, the Raimondi Family Scholarship, supported by the Raimondi Family Foundation, awarded a total of $60,000 to four outstanding students. The Hall Foundation provided transformative support to four students, including two graduating seniors who each received $40,000 college scholarships and two underclassmen who were awarded summer institute scholarships.

The Naomi and Ray Wess Nursing Scholarship, established by Renate and Alex Dreyfoos, awarded a graduating senior up to $30,000 over four years to pursue a degree in nursing, honoring Naomi Wess’s legacy of care and service in the medical field.

The New Wave Residency and Scholarship, supported by gallerist Sarah Gavlak and SOAFI board member Barry Blumberg, recognized two exceptional student artists as 2026 New Wave Student Residents. Each recipient received a combined scholarship and stipend, along with access to studio space at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach. Founded in 2018, New Wave provides artists with the space, resources, and professional development opportunities needed to grow their practice and contribute to the cultural landscape of South Florida.

The ceremony also recognized the impactful contributions of Ellen Liman and Ricki Gail Conway, whose generosity continues to expand access to transformative arts education experiences. Through her philanthropy, Ellen Liman, a local artist and member of the SOAFI Board, has provided over $40,000 in summer institute scholarships for nine students in Digital Arts & Photography and Visual Arts, supporting her belief in the value of immersive summer programs. Ricki Gail Conway, a former SOAFI Board member and passionate advocate for dance education, through the Doris & Stanley Tananbaum Foundation, contributed $50,000 to support seven summer institute scholarships and five college scholarships for dance students, creating meaningful opportunities for young artists to pursue advanced training and performance experiences.

“These scholarships open doors that might otherwise feel out of reach,” said DSOA Principal Blake Bennett. “They reflect the incredible generosity of our community and the hard work, passion, and commitment our students bring to their craft every single day.”

Scholarship recipients will go on to attend some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, NYU, Juilliard, Columbia, Duke, UCLA, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Miami, Cooper Union, SCAD, RISD, Ringling, Pratt Institute, and many others. Beyond financial support, these scholarships recognize students’ dedication and provide meaningful support as they take the next step in their journey.

The ceremony also highlighted the meaningful connection between donors and students, with many scholarship funders in attendance to personally congratulate recipients and celebrate their achievements.

Dr. Chris Snyder, CEO of the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation, closed the ceremony with a message of encouragement. “Scholarship Night is one of my favorite evenings of the year because we get to celebrate our students in all of their glory. We are proud to recognize a record number of scholarships this year, made possible by a community of donors and supporters who deeply believe in the value of an arts education. These scholarships are not only opening doors for our seniors as they begin college, but also helping our underclassmen grow through transformative Summer Institute experiences.”

The annual Scholarship Ceremony remains one of SOAFI’s most impactful traditions, celebrating both the extraordinary talent of Dreyfoos students and the community that continues to invest in their success.

For more information about SOAFI and how to support student scholarships, please visit soafi.org.

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The Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation provides support for the arts and academic curriculum at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, a public arts high school ranked #110 out of nearly 25,000 public high schools in the nation and the #2 public school in Palm Beach County.

Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation, Inc. | P.O. Box 552, West Palm Beach, FL 33402 | 561-805-6298 | info@soafi.org