Dr. E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University, recently awarded his third annual scholarship to dance student Josh Hines from Lancaster, OH. DR. Gee presented Hines with the scholarship award during Department of Dance final performances on June 3.

“I am so pleased to continue to support the arts on campus with this scholarship,” said Dr. Gee. “We need great dancers on campus every bit as much as we need great data analysts!”

President Gee's support is part of a personal commitment he made to students when the recession hit hard in 2008. By committing to fund a $1 million endowed scholarship, Dr. Gee's gift will provide renewable annual scholarships for one student at each class rank.

Since the inception of his scholarship fund, Dr. Gee set his sights on the arts, with the inaugural scholarship in 2009 going to freshman Todd Fessler in the School of Music, and the 2010 scholarship going to senior dance student Daniel Holt, who also met President Gee at the recent Dance event.

2011 recipient Hines said being awarded the scholarship “really blew me away – it’s huge! Prior to receiving it, I had to take out a lot of loans for college. This scholarship will fund my education and allow me to pursue my dream.”

Hines was born and raised in Lancaster, and began dancing in 2008 during his senior year of high school. He studied many different dance styles including musical theater, jazz, hip-hop, swing dancing, and ballet.

After high school, Hines graduated from Hocking College with an associate’s degree in Fire Fighting and Emergency Medical Services –- as his “back-up plan” -- while he continued to dance passionately in his off time.

“I love the physicality and athleticism of ballet and modern dance, the raw body form. I also love musical theatre, and being a ham on stage.” Eventually, he wants to combine those art forms and plans to perform professionally after graduation.

Daniel Holt was awarded a one-year scholarship from President Gee late last summer, which he says was “absolutely amazing. My four other siblings and my mom are all in college too, so getting loans was tricky. This scholarship was the key to helping me finish my last year of school. It shows Dr. Gee’s huge level of commitment to education and Ohio State.”

Holt – who specializes in “guerilla dance” which he describes as making dance familiar by making it part of people’s everyday lives – is working on a documentary film about his experiences. Now that he’s graduated, he plans to move to New York City to continue his guerilla project, dance professionally, choreograph and teach.