Maria Fernanda Castillo Enriquez, an international student at Stetson University, is on a full-tuition honors scholarship pursuing a political science degree on a pre-law track. She previously earned her Associate of Arts at Daytona State College, graduating with the most recognitions in her class, including Quanta-Honors, Writing Center, Community Engagement, Hall of Fame, and Pinnacle awards. She has led multiple student-led projects benefiting communities in the U.S. and Guatemala.

Born in Mazatenango, Guatemala, Fernanda fell in love with Ballet at four, but there were no local schools; she waited five years for a municipal program to open its doors. Sadly, the program was underfunded and limited; thus, she started seeking training three hours away in Antigua before moving to Guatemala City. Financial hardships marked her journey, but she and her mother persisted. At 18, she moved to Florida to train with Zhanna Dubroskaya, earning scholarships for programs in Spain and Russia. She was later accepted into the A&A conservatory and company programs. Yet, due to economic constraints during the pandemic, she had to step away from professional Ballet.

Determined to keep dance in her life, in 2020, she volunteered with Transformación Ballet, a New York-based NGO operating in Guatemala. First, she taught via Zoom, and later, in 2021, she served on-site as a temporary artistic director. She traveled between towns and earned a monthly stipend of just $200. This experience deepened her awareness of how fine arts programs transform vulnerable communities.

In 2022, while at Daytona State College, Fernanda funded Ballet for the World, bringing dance to children at Hope Place emergency shelter. A $5,500 grant from the Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach funded ballet barres, floors, and uniforms. Partnering with Brown Girls Do Ballet, she secured a two-year scholarship for a former Hope Place resident, who is now training at a local dance school. Expanding the initiative, she won a $2,000 United Way grant to introduce a creative writing program. Ballet for the World has since impacted over 100 children in Daytona Beach, offering more than 130 ballet and writing classes through partnerships with eight organizations. In 2025, she secured three additional scholarships for children at Hope Place.

Fernanda and Ballet for the World Initiative continue working at Hope Place, providing children with opportunities their families cannot afford while breaking systemic barriers and fighting against inequality.

Leo Mueller is a Daytona State College freshman majoring in Early Education and aspiring to become a Child Life Specialist. Working with children has always been her passion, and she has dedicated herself to this field for as long as she can remember. Over the past three years, she has gained valuable experience working at summer camps and afterschool programs and is currently employed at the YMCA in childcare.

Her goal is to continue expanding her skills and knowledge in child development while positively impacting the lives of the children she works with. She is committed to helping children navigate challenges, celebrate successes, and ultimately thrive.

Braedyn Wasden is a college senior in the class of 2026, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Stetson University. He is passionate about creativity and expression and loves reading and writing weird fiction.

He started volunteering with BFTWI after his friend Fernanda Castillo invited him to develop a class for kids with a passion for literature but who do not have access to the necessary resources. He believes in allowing every kid to read and engage with literature from a young age, even when it’s hard!

Jessa Ward has been dancing for over eight years. She grew up in the Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach area, and after having to stop competitive gymnastics due to an injury, she found a new passion for dance and has loved the art ever since.

Jessa has also attended workshops and dance intensives by dance companies such as Ballet Magnificat and RAKR Dance. She loves being able to perform in different places and events in her local community with the FREED Dance Ensemble. When she is not in school or at dance, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, especially her young nieces and nephews, or going to the beach, where she likes to walk, surf, and dance.

Dance has been a large part of her life for so long, bringing her joy and serving as an outlet for emotional expression. This is why she loves the mission of Ballet for the World Initiative—because dance should be for every child, and she wants to help ensure that each child has access to the arts and the freedom and joy they bring.

Matthew was born in Daytona Beach, Florida. He attended Mainland High School and is pursuing his Associate of Arts degree at Daytona State College through the Quanta-Honors Program. A dedicated golfer since 11, Matthew began playing at Cypress Head Golf Club and has become an accomplished player. While still exploring his future academic and career goals, he is passionate about giving back to his community. As a volunteer with BFTWI, Matthew enjoys spending time with students and finds fulfillment in supporting them in engaging with ballet and creative writing. He values the opportunity to make a meaningful impact through his involvement. In his free time, Matthew enjoys learning new skills, playing video games, and spending time with friends.

Simon was born in Accra, Ghana. He grew up in a science-oriented household. His mother taught STEM for years, exposing him to the field. Inspired by his surroundings, he created a probiotic company to help close the probiotic gap among low-income communities an opportunity that showed him the importance of community involvement. After, he decided to seek educational possibilities abroad. Stetson University was among his prospects, especially because he could become a Bonner Program scholar and pursue a bachelors degree in computer science in the United States.

In Deland, Florida, he has been a Bonner intern for Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida and now, most recently, the website manager at BFTWI. While also interning for top-notch companies like Uber and Zillow. Simon spends his free time cooking, playing ping-pong and pool, and networking with like-minded individuals. Among his passions are community service, Hackathons, art, and playing friendly soccer matches with his friends. He expresses that working with BFTWI is a way to fulfill the intersection between community needs, personal passion, and career goals. Building a website for the program gave him a sense of fulfillment, knowing that this would increase the aid the organization could receive to continue impacting the lives of many children in the United States and abroad.