|
|
CONGRESSIONAL AWARD FOR SERVICE
July 21, 2010
BATON ROUGE – Brandi Lynn Thomas, a management student in the LSU E. J. Ourso College of Business, received the Congressional Award Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for completing more than 750 hours of volunteer service in two years.
Thomas was presented the medals by U. S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R- Jefferson, Wednesday, July 7, 2010. The award is the highest honor given to young people by the U.S. Congress.
In addition to spending 320 hours teaching ballroom dance to children and teens, Thomas taught etiquette, self-esteem, respect and teamwork to the students. She also completed more than 430 hours of service by creating an English as a Second Language program in Macau, China.
Thomas’ grandfather sparked her interest in ballroom dancing when she was nine years old.
“I was hooked from the first step,” Thomas said. “My grandfather and I were such a unique partnership that we were asked to perform at many events across the state. I learned many ballroom dances such as waltz, tango, swing, foxtrot, cha cha, salsa and rhumba.”
When she was 12 years old, Thomas taught ballroom dance to the Mandeville High School Swing Dance Club. The club was the first of its kind in Louisiana, and now there are more than 23 student ballroom dance clubs across the state. When she was 16 years old, Thomas established her own company, Ballroom by Brandi, which has received national entrepreneurial awards.
Ballroom by Brandi grew from Thomas’ love of teaching dance as well as the beneficial effects ballroom dance had on her students and friends.
“Students, who at the start of the school year had been shy, were becoming more confident,” Thomas said. “The club became a sanctuary for the students and a place they could go where there were no labels, just mutual trust, respect and true friendship.”
Thomas’ passion for teaching was what led her to China.
“Students in China learn English as their second language just like students in the U.S. most often learn Spanish or French,” she said. “The issue is that kids in China rarely get the chance to practice speaking English with Westerners. I wanted to do what I could to help.”
Currently an intern with Walt Disney World, Thomas was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. She is an active member of the Ballroom Dance Club at LSU and served as its president in spring 2010. Additionally, she competes in the USADance South Central Regional Championship annually.
The Congressional Award recognizes people ages 14 to 23 who set and achieve goals based on Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness and Expedition/Exploration.
|
|
LSU BALLROOM DANCE CLUB WINS REGIONAL MEDALS
LSU Ballroom Dance Club won six gold medals in the USA Dance South Central Regional Ballroom Dance Championships held June 25-26 at the Crowne Plaza. The event drew competitors from across the U.S and Europe and is a national qualifying event. William Hutchings, of New Orleans, and Brandi Thomas, of Covington, won four gold medals in Adult Bronze Rhythm, Bronze Scholarship Rhythm, and Adult Silver Rhythm, placed second in Adult Bronze Smooth and Adult Scholarship Smooth. |
|