This season, BAND went on the look for exceptional young athletes who empower and inspire everyone around them. We asked coaches to tell us about an athlete that has inspired them and the rest of their teams to work harder and push forward in the face of challenges.
We were amazed by the incredible stories that coaches from all over the country sent in about their athletes. The amount of love and passion felt by the coaches who submitted was clear in every entry, and it has been very difficult to narrow down the list of deserving and qualified athletes.
BAND is very pleased to present our Recommended Athlete Scholarship to Ashland Anderson.
Congratulations, Ashland!
Based on her skill, sportsmanship, and perseverance, Ashland has been awarded the ‘Recommended Athlete’ Scholarship by everyone here at BAND. We hope she continues to uplift her teammates and help them band together!
Ashland Anderson is a talented 14-year-old dancer, actress, and captain at ACA Dance Company.
Before she was a dancer, Ashland spent nine years in cheerleading. She wanted to challenge herself to learn new and more complex movements than she was learning in cheerleading.
Her first day at the studio, Ashland showed up with a 104 fever. She still scored better than most of the other girls at tryouts.
Ashland’s presence helped the other girls to improve. Her passion and drive inspire them to work harder too. As team captain, Ashland tries to support everyone in the group and celebrate their unique talents and gifts.
Ashland’s family is very supportive and helps inspire her to never give up on her dreams. Her mom and older sister make themselves available to help out at the studio and push Ashland to do well with school.
Outside of dance, Ashland loves singing, acting and performing in theater competitions. She has her sights set on Broadway after she graduates, (or becoming “the next Beyonce!)
“My mom told me to never settle for less than I want to be. So when I’m dancing or I’m acting… I imagine that I’m doing it professionally…because you never know who’s out there. Don’t worry about other people’s success, try to get to each level, and prepare to be at that level. Don’t try to rush it” — Ashland Anderson
At BAND, we are inspired by Ashland’s passion and positive attitude. We hope that this scholarship will inspire Ashland and everyone at her studio to continue pursuing their dreams and band together!
A great coach inspires their athletes, but great athletes inspire their coaches.
Thank you to everyone who submitted their athletes for our competition. Click the banner below to learn more about the other winners.
