Calvin Crane & Lexie LaFeber awarded inaugural Dee Pace Theater Scholarship
May 12, 2021
Salt Lake City, UT — In partnership with the Dee Pace Memorial Foundation, the Utah Music Foundation, is thrilled to announce Calvin Crane and Lexie LaFeber as the recipients of the inaugural Dee Pace Musical Theater scholarship.
Calvin Crane
Calvin Crane is a high school senior at Box Elder High School in Brigham City, UT. He has participated in theater since he was 8 years old. He has played many different roles, he favorites being Gavroche in Les Mis, Crutchie in Newsies and SpongeBob in The SpongeBob Musical. He will be serving a mission in Київ, Ukraine starting this July, and when he gets back he will attend Utah State University where he will pursue Fixed-Wing Aviation and participation in community theater wherever possible.
“I am so honored to be the recipient of this scholarship! I remember seeing Dee Pace in Treasure Island at Heritage Theater, he was in it with my brother Kevin, and I absolutely loved his performance,” Calvin says. “He had such a profound influence on theater in my hometown, and it has affected the way I see and participate in it! When he passed away, the world truly lost a light and wonderful man. I am so honored that I am the recipient of the scholarship made in his name, this is something that will mean a lot for me my entire life.”
Lexie LaFeber
Lexie LaFeber is passionate about musical theatre. She is a 2021 graduate of Weber High School, where she performed in numerous musicals, including Newsies, Mamma Mia, The Robber Bridegroom, Urinetown, and Fiddler on the Roof. She has a passion for performing and loves to bring joy to others whenever she is on stage. She enjoys participating in service for her school, church, and community, and she loves her country. She is looking forward to pursuing music in college (likely at Utah State University), and plans to continue participating in musical theatre for as long as she can. She wishes to thank the Dee Pace Memorial Foundation for choosing her to receive this scholarship, and is honored to carry on the legacy of Dee Pace.
“I wish to thank you for selecting me to receive the Dee Pace Theatre Scholarship. I am truly honored by this, and will work hard to give back to the theatre community, on behalf of Dee Pace. He sounds like an amazing man who was able to affect the lives of many students, as a drama teacher and school administrator and Principal. A love for performing is something he and I both share, and I can't wait to carry on his legacy by bringing joy to others through musical theatre. I am thankful for the assistance, so I can attend a university and study music and theatre and carry out my dreams.”
These $500 scholarships are awarded each year based on the applicant’s involvement in theater, a recorded musical audition, and a brief essay. This short essay invites students to share the impact theater has made on their community and how they will be involved in theater going forward. The application process opens each spring and applicants are invited to apply at www.utahmusicfoundation.org.
To view other scholarship recipients, please visit the Utah Music Foundation website.
For more information, please contact: info@utahmusicfoundation.org
About Dee Pace
Allen “Dee” Pace was born June 5, 1951 and grew up in Spanish Fork, Utah, the son of Allen D. Pace and Arleane Porter and the eldest of six children. A graduate of Southern Utah State College, he went on to teach drama in Richfield, Utah from 1975-1976. In 1978, he and his wife, Nedra, relocated to Tremonton, Utah where he taught drama for 15 years. At that time, Pace became a school administrator—serving as Principal of Honeyville and Bear River Elementary Schools and Vice Principal of Bear River and Box Elder High Schools. He retired in 2008 after 30 years of service in public education only to return to the classroom as drama teacher at Box Elder Junior High School and Student Teacher advisor at Weber State University. As an educator, Pace had a profound impact on his students, many of whom were in touch with him at the end of his life.
Pace met his wife, Nedra, while performing at the Promised Valley Playhouse. He enjoyed performing with his wife and children and was deeply involved with local theaters throughout Northern Utah performing in and directing countless productions. He quickly became a favorite at the Heritage Theater in Perry, Utah where he served on the Board of Directors for several years. He delighted audience members and developed a large following of friends and fans.
In addition to his service as an educator and community member, Pace was admired for his ability to reach out and make others feel important and loved—particularly those most in need of friendship. His family remember him as a friend to everyone and recall having frequent visits from former students and guests at most family nights and holiday celebrations. Pace’s wife, children, and students created the Dee Pace Memorial Foundation to honor his legacy of service.
About Dee Pace Memorial Foundation
The Dee Pace Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded to perpetuate Dee's legacy in performing arts education and humanitarian service. Visit www.deepacefoundation.org for more information.
About Utah Music Foundation
Founded in 2018, the Utah Music Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping students in Utah reach their musical and academic potential. Utah Music Foundation offers scholarships to musical high school students to help alleviate the financial burden of their college education. In 2020, more than 65 students representing over 25 high schools from 10 counties in Utah applied for available scholarships. Utah Music Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a public charity with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Visit www.UtahMusicFoundation.org for more information.