“Gordon LeBert, right, presents the Barbara Hatch LeBert Modern Dance Endowment scholarship to Langley resident Meghan Ballog. At left is scholarship committee chair Jann Johnston.Joan Soltys/staff photo Langley resident Meghan Ballog has been named the winner of the first Barbara Hatch LeBert Modern Dance Endowment scholarship. Ballog is currently pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree in modern dance performance at The Boston Conservatory, where she plans to apply her award of $1,000 toward tuition.A 1999 graduate of South Whidbey High School, Ballog completed an AA at Seattle Central Community College through Running Start before heading east to Boston. She has been a student of dance for more than 10 years, training at dance schools and through master classes and workshops in ballet, modern dance, jazz, tap and musical theater.Ballog has also done choreography and performed widely, with companies including Whidbey Dance Theatre and Olympic Ballet Theatre. She has even performed with Lynn Barr Dances in Urbino, Italy. A student who is also a teacher, Ballog has been on the faculty of Island Dance for several years, and is currently a summer instructor there in ballet and modern dance. We are delighted to support Meghan’s commitment to the field of modern dance, said scholarship committee chair Jann Johnston. The quality of applicants this first year was very high. The committee wishes to recognize Amy Berto, Katie Riggs and Susan Campbell Sandri with Awards of Merit.The memorial fund was established in 1999 by LeBert’s husband Gordon LeBert, in recognition of Barbara’s efforts to establish Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and to promote appreciation for modern dance on South Whidbey. Barbara had a dream, and I hope this will help fulfill that dream, LeBert said. Funds from the endowment will be awarded annually to local artists for training, development or education in modern dance or to support the creation, development, production and presentation of a modern dance piece or concert. Funds can be used to cover tuition, travel and related educational costs. Applications will be accepted again in September 2001.Members of the LeBert Endowment Scholarship Committee are Emily Day, Shannon Connell, Beth White, Stacie Burgua and Jann Johnston. “