From left are Marci Williams-Hadley, Ella Duliba and Donna Dimitroff.

The Buffalo Jills Cheerleading Alumni Association recently awarded four college scholarships to Western New York cheerleaders and dancers. The scholarship program recognizes outstanding high school students that demonstrated strong academic achievement, community service, and plans to continue their education while participating on a college dance or cheerleading team.

The Buffalo Jills Alumni scholarship is about more than financial support; it is about celebrating leadership, school spirit, discipline and the commitment it takes to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Ella Duliba, a graduating senior from Forestville High School has been selected one of four scholarship recipients and the only winner selected from Chautauqua County. She earned a GPA of 3.8, is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish honor society and was team captain for her school cheerleading team.

In addition, Duliba has dedicated most of her time, efforts and passion as a two year team captain and 12 year member of the esteemed National Champion Majestic Dance team through her dance education at the Collage Performing Arts Center. Ella has earned 8 National Dance Team Championships as well as a selected UDA All-American Dance Champion. She helps coach unified sports, youth dance teams and has volunteered at local nursing homes.

The scholarship winners were presented with a scholarship certificate and a check at an awards ceremony on June 17 attended by their families and the Buffalo Jills Alumni. Scholarship committee chairperson, Julie Fanutti Lana said “Ella, Through your outstanding dance experiences, classroom achievement, community service and commitment to your family, you have demonstrated your ability to set goals and to pursue them with dedication, perseverance, leadership and confidence. On behalf of the Buffalo Jills Alumni Cheerleaders Association we proudly present you with this scholarship”.

The daughter of Ron and Kelly Duliba of Forestville, she will be attending The University of Buffalo in the fall where she recently auditioned for and was selected as a new member of the Universities Dance Team, The UB Dazzlers.