The first annual Claire Marie Foundation Scholarship was recently awarded to Edina Hiser, a 2015 graduating Senior of the Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson, Maryland. Edina will be attending the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater Design at the School of Dramatic Arts at USC.
The Claire Marie Foundation Scholarship is awarded annually in the memory of Claire Marie Wagonhurst, an aspiring interior designer and member of the Notre Dame Prep Class of 2015 who passed away of adolescent melanoma at the age of 17. Applicants must be a graduating senior at Notre Dame Prep pursuing an academic and professional career in design arts.
An impressive panel of professional judges determined the winner of the $5,000 scholarship, including Ty Pennington of TV’s Extreme Make-over, Jillian Harris of HGTV Love it or List It Too, Danielle DiFerdinando, creator and designer of Danielle Nicole handbags, Fashion Illustrator Inslee Haynes, Interior Designer Fredericke Hecht and Lighting and Set Designer, Tim Swiss of Los Angeles.
The Claire Marie Foundation was established in 2014 following the death of Claire Marie Wagonhurst, a sparkling 17 year old who lost a long battle with adolescent melanoma as a result of changes her body went through during puberty. The Claire Marie Foundation strives to raise awareness, clarity and hope in the fight against adolescent melanoma while celebrating the joy, color and beauty that Claire embraced every day. The foundation also supports an arts scholarship in her name at Notre Dame Preparatory School. The Foundation is led by media consultant Marianne Banister, Claire Marie Wagonhurst’s mother.
