Dillon Stewart & Charlee Sorensen awarded 2022 Dee Pace Theater Scholarship
May 14, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT — In partnership with the Dee Pace Memorial Foundation, the Utah Music Foundation, is thrilled to announce Dillon Stewart and Charlee Sorensen as the recipients of the 2022 Dee Pace Musical Theater scholarship.
Dillon Stewart
Dillon Stewart is the son of Jimmy and Nicole Stewart of Garland, Utah. Dillon has been active in theatre since he was nine years old. He has been involved in over 15 productions; some of which include Seussical the Musical, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Willy Wonka, Addams Family, and Cinderella. Most recently Dillon performed in Tuck Everlasting as Angus Tuck, Bye Bye Birdie as Conrad Birdie, and The Music Man as Harold Hill. Dillon is a senior at Bear River High School and will attend Southern Utah University in the fall of 2022 majoring in Theatre Education in hopes to spread his deep passion for theatre to younger generations.
“It is with great honor that I accept this scholarship. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to display my talents and efforts.” Dillon says. “Because of this scholarship I will be able to further my education in Theatre and eventually pass my knowledge onto future generations. Through theatre I was able to discover who I truly am. My wish is to be able to help those alike me find who they are through the arts. Dee Pace to this day is impacting those through the arts and I hope one day I can do the same. I am humbled and grateful that you chose me among the other very qualified applicants for this scholarship.”
Charlee Sorensen
Charlee Sorensen is the youngest of three and grew up in the small but charming town of Aurora, Utah. She is an accomplished vocalist, dedicated student, driven leader, and possesses a deep love for service and working with people. She has been participating in musical theatre from a young age and it has enriched her life in innumerable ways. The impact was so profound that Charlee is pursuing the performing arts as a career. She plans on attending Utah Valley University this fall after graduating and majoring in Vocal Performance with ambitions of teaching music and performing in operas around the world.
“I would like to thank the Dee Pace Memorial Foundation and the Utah Music Foundation for this generous scholarship and the opportunity to represent Dee Pace’s profound impact!” says Charlee. “I am truly honored and so thankful for the scholarship that will assist in my graduating college debt free and making my own impact through the performing arts.”
These $1,000 scholarships are awarded 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.