Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship recipient 2023 LAHS Graduate Elise Ovaska. Courtesy/Jessica Booton Photography

LAPS Foundation News:

The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation announces Elise Ovaska as the first winner of the Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship.

The Ramsey Scholarship is awarded in memory of Ross and Lola Ramsey who worked as a team to manage the Civic Auditorium, now the Duane Smith Auditorium, for over a quarter of a century. From the year the auditorium opened in 1951 to 1974 when they both retired, the Ramseys created and directed the renowned Olions theater program and helped students find and develop their potential as they acted in and produced plays, musicals and Topper Revue.

The Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship was established by a group of former students who wanted to honor the legacy of the Ramseys for their profound role in shaping the lives of thousands of students at Los Alamos High School. In addition to the scholarship, the stage at the Duane Smith Auditorium was named the Ross and Lola Ramsey Stage in March 2023.

Ovaska is the daughter of Lynn and Eric Ovaska. She will attend Arizona State University to study art/animation.

The Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, an independent organization which serves as the connection between our community and school district, evaluating needs and investing resources to improve the quality of public education in our community. To learn more about the LAPS Foundation, visit www.lapsfoundation.com.