Christopher Braz was born in Dearborn and raised in Farmington Hills and Detroit before relocating to Stone Mountain, Georgia. He graduated from Miller Grove High School in nearby Lithonia, whose motto is: The school where you must do something! Braz certainly has taken that motto to heart. He will be a junior in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts this fall, working toward a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance performance.

Why did you decide to attend WSU?
I decided to come to Wayne State because I knew the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts' Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance has amazing training. The department is known throughout the Midwest for its outstanding choreography and world renowned instructors. I knew the education I would receive here would empower my artistry.

How did financial aid factor into your decision?
When I first started at Wayne State, I was not offered much money in my financial aid package. However, I still felt tuition was affordable for me even without a great deal of financial assistance. I did very well in my freshman year classes and was eligible to apply for more scholarship support. The scholarships I have received have been very helpful to me.

Why is the Edmund Ruffin Endowed Scholarship important to you?
This scholarship represents the compassion and interest in students' futures - my future - that someone was willing to invest in.

What do you like best about WSU?
I like the diversity here as well as learning about my classmates' heritages.

What is your favorite class?
I have two favorite classes: ballet taught by Mary (Meg) Paul and Addison O'Day, and African American Literature taught by Professor Lisa Winters.

Which professor has taught you the most?
That is a hard question since I feel the entire dance department faculty has taught me so much. However, I have had Meg Paul's class the longest and I would say I have learned the most from her.

Are you involved in any student groups or other campus activities?
Being a dance major is all-consuming and there are many independent and study abroad dance programs year-round that students can be involved in. I am a member of Youth Pride Services, which is the largest national black LGBT youth leadership development program in the U.S. for those under the age of 25. I also am a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

(Editor's note: NSCS recognizes outstanding academic achievement on 300 college campuses across the country. The group exists to assure the academic success of high achievers through scholarships and other benefits of membership, and is dedicated to the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.)

What do you like to do in your free time?
Sometimes it is hard to imagine having free time, but when I do have some time to spare, I teach and/or mentor young children at Ballet Renaissance. This is a nonprofit organization founded by the School of American Ballet and Wayne State alumna Briana Furnish. It is dedicated to training the inner city youth of Detroit in ballet.

The Edmund Ruffin Endowed Scholarship was established with a bequest in 1963 and has assisted the university's students for nearly a half century. Donor-funded scholarships are an important part of financial aid at Wayne State.