Though this is something I have gone back and forth on many, many times… I’ve decided to put myself out there and help my daughter’s dreams become a reality. Please consider helping us get Ayira to NYC this summer for a once in a lifetime opportunity for such a young, bright shining star.

Ayira was selected to participate in Accelerate Pre-College Programs’ NYC Musical Theater Intensive at Marymount Manhattan College!! Which also happens to be the college of her dreams, where she would LOVE to pursue her college career after graduating next year.

With receiving the exciting news just over a week ago (March 18th to be exact) it does not leave much time to come up with the funds needed to secure her spot and cover the remaining tuition.

Ayira has been awarded a $3,000 scholarship (a big deal!!!) but it still leaves a hefty tab that we are not equipped to meet in such a short deadline. She will need just over $2000 to cover the adjusted tuition after her scholarship by June 1st, 2026. That does not include her airfare and personal spending and meals money.

I know how much this means to Ayira, and I am willing to go to any lengths necessary to help make this happen for her.

Ayira has been performing in musical theater since she was 11, standing in as (her least favorite notable role) a tree and group ensembles/dance pieces. She has since made her way to securing key roles in numerous productions with The Playhouse Theater Group in Stevens Point and CWETA (The Central Wi Educational Theater Alliance) and CWCT (Central Wi Children’s Theater) in Wausau. She has been hand picked for solos and performances for unaffiliated organizations (Dance Education Center and The Performing Arts Center in Wi Rapids) that have watched her perform and wanted her to be a part of their showcases and productions. Ayira is also part of The Central Wisconsin Jerry Ensemble, a premier performance group representing the Jerry Awards, featuring a small select group of high school vocal performers from all over Wisconsin. This group builds each participant's technical skills in acting, singing and dancing.

Ayira definitely has found her way around getting as much exposure and training as she can within our area, and the opportunity to attend the summer intensive would be the cherry on top!!!

Ayira has gained a large following of student and adult supporters made up of family and friends, and a LOT of strangers that fall in love with her stage presence and vocals. I’m hoping this reaches each and every person that has had the opportunity to see what she can do, and help Ayira chase her dreams with this amazing opportunity she has so well earned.

Ayira gained her acceptance through a vigorous application process. This included completing the online application, submitting her high school transcript, a personal statement describing her passion for musical theater, her motivation for enrolling in the program, and what she hopes to gain from the experience. It also included a contact for at least one teacher, counselor or performance coach as a reference, a professional headshot and theater resume, and an audition video consisting of two contrasting 16-32 bar song cuts from the Broadway repertoire.

With so many aspects to be “graded” on, it is truly inspiring that she made such an impact on those deciding to not only accept her, but also award her with the large scholarship.

A glimpse into Ayira’s love for musical theater and why she wants to continue chasing the dream after high school -

“I want to pursue musical theater because the first time I performed in a show, I felt like I was finally part of something bigger, and a part of such a big community of like-minded students and faculty that share the same love and support. My goal is to continue performing and expanding my knowledge and talent in musical theater because it has been the one consistent thing that always brings me joy. So I want to be able to perform for as long as I can, and share that sense of fulfillment with the world.”

This is a two-week residential program, where students live in a Marymount Manhattan College residence hall alongside fellow participants and the Student Life Team. Aspiring performers will be coached and prepared for college auditions and beyond. Students in this program receive individualized coaching alongside a supportive community of peers and industry professionals. A totally immersive learning experience and opportunity. It helps develop essential skills grounded in current industry standards - from analyzing scripts and songs to making informed acting choices, using music to drive storytelling, and mastering self-tape techniques for digital pre-screens. The curriculum builds a strong academic foundation in music theater history, music fundamentals, and musical analysis while emphasizing practical, performance-ready training.

Participants will attend Broadway shows, hear directly from working professional artists, and train where the industry lives, NEW YORK CITY! This program harnesses its unique location to offer experiences that can only happen in NYC. By the end of the two-week program, students leave audition-ready, confident, and equipped with the tools to succeed in any room - or on any screen.

What does this mean for Ayira? It means that she gets a first hand, foot in the door, opportunity to be recognized and coached on how to successfully submit college auditions, coming straight from the college she hopes to attend. What a dream!!

It is far from home, but I want nothing more than for Jadyn to spread her wings and experience everything she can on her journey to adulthood and her career path. If you know Ayira, NYC is where her heart and passion lies. Everything she does now, is preparing her to reach her goals of making it to NYC and chasing her dreams and passion.

Over the last few years, Marymount Manhattan College has merged with Northeastern University to form Northeastern University – New York City, expanding Northeastern’s global campus network while preserving MMC’s performing arts legacy.

Northeastern is a top ranking experimental research university that prides itself on academic rigor, a diverse and talented population of students and faculty, and a powerful learning model that combines the classroom experience with hands-on work experience.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read my fundraising story. I am hopeful that one way or another, we will get Ayira to NYC this summer to attend the intensive program of her dreams.