Pay It Forward

KBMF Scholarships

~NNHS Scholarship~

Kathryn Bender Performance Award

The "Kathryn Bender Performance Award," is a scholarship that will be given to a Naperville North High School graduating senior to assist them with college tuition. The recipient of this award demonstrates performance skills such as leadership and being a role model. Other qualifications include participation in school activities which encompass everything from choir, band and orchestra to orchesis, drama club and first class.

To help display the "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" and its recipients, KBMF and Naperville North have worked together to have a mural established in the building. More information on this mural, can be found under the NNHS Mural link.

The 2006 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Jackie Trabilsy
The 2007 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Grace Pillari.
The 2008 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Mike Deely.
The 2009 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Rachel Klippell.
The 2010 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Mike Krashen.
The 2011 "Kathryn Bender Performance Award" was awarded to Stephanie Svarz.

~Steps Dance Scholarships~

Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship

The "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" is awarded to a performing group member at Steps Dance Center and entitles them to a year of paid tuition at the studio. This dancer must display similar characteristics as Kathryn.  They are nominated by instructors at the studio who knew Kathryn and are chosen by the KBMF officers.  The recipient's name is engraved on a plaque which is displayed at Steps Dance Center.

The 2006 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Amanda Scherer.
The 2007 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Melissa Pallardy.
The 2008 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Victoria Shudy.
The 2009 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Jackie Dennis.
The 2010 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Evangelia Cucuras.
The 2011 "Kathryn Bender Performing Group Scholarship" was awarded to Lexis Rich.


Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship

The "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" is awarded to a high school senior aged dancer at Steps to assist them with college tuition.  This dancer must also display similar characteristics as Kathryn.  All senior dancers who are interested in receiving the scholarship fill out a questionaire and the recipient is chosen by the KBMF officers.  Their name will be engraved on a plaque which is displayed at Steps Dance Center.

The 2006 "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" was awarded to Kim LaVelle.
The 2007 "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" was awarded to Elizabeth Betten.
The 2008 "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" was awarded to Katie Biegel and Elizabeth McGuiness.
The 2009 "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" was awarded to Corrie Belobraydich and Caitlin Mazurek.

The 2011 "Kathryn Bender Senior Scholarship" was awarded to Alexa Geist and Ashley Mazurek.