Vidya Govind-Thomas, a senior disciple of Hema Rajagopalan, was the proud recipient of a Level I ($3,000) Award in dance from YoungArts, the core program of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), and was a Presidential Scholar semi-finalist. YoungArts winners are chosen from nearly 8,000 applicants. YoungArts celebrates and rewards exceptional student artists from across the U.S. in nine artistic fields: cinematic arts, dance, music, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing. Participation in YoungArts Week allows students to participate in master classes, workshops, readings, exhibits and enrichment activities, while also giving them the chance to perform in front of renowned artists and arts educators.