Dancer Melyssa Smith, a resident of Clinton, has received a number of awards since winning the Alvin Ailey scholarship in fall 2014, according to a recent press release.

Smith was awarded one of six Senior “Break Out Artist” awards at the Nuvo Northwest Regional Convention and Competition in February.

The award includes a full scholarship to any and all regional competitions across the country for one year, a $400 scholarship to the national competition, as well as free tuition to the summer convention.

Smith was also recently invited to the invitation-only Dance World Cup, an international competition and professional World Dance Congress was started over 40 years ago by the UN/UNESCO.

The competition will be held this summer in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

This invitation has also qualified Smith to attend the Canadian Nationals Convention and Competition with 5678 Showtime which will be held just before the World Cup.

Instructors and scouts from Canada-based Cirque du Soleil will be present at both events, according to the release.

In addition, Smith has received two “Miss Senior Dance” titles complete with tiaras and trophies; a “Senior Photogenic Award” for a photo taken by Michael Stadler; numerous solo “High Point Overall” placement awards as well as several “First Place Overall” awards for her performance in group pieces. She has also received several event invitations and recognitions for excellence in a number of convention classes.