Rolling with Excellence: Our 2025 Skating Scholar!

Starting and stopping on skates may be a key skill—but truly stopping your passion for skating? That’s nearly impossible! No one embodies this relentless love for the sport more than Ivanna Otero, and we couldn’t be prouder to celebrate her as the inaugural recipient of the El Centro Artistic Skating Team’s “Skating Scholar” for the 2025 season.

Ivanna’s skating journey has been as remarkable as it has been determined. A 16-year-old powerhouse of talent and resilience, she’s faced stops and starts in her skating career but has never let challenges slow her down. Her love for skating began in her early years in Mexico, but life’s twists and turns—including a broken arm and several major moves—meant she was reintroduced to Artistic roller skating time and again. Despite these hurdles, Ivanna’s dream of maintaining a regular skating schedule has been her steadfast goal for the past four years.

Her story took a pivotal turn in 2023 when she met Coach Linda at SkateWorld in Tacoma. Although the rink’s closure meant Ivanna couldn’t follow her coach to El Centro in Federal Way until the fall of 2024, her commitment never wavered. Since joining the team, Ivanna has shone brightly—performing a solo freestyle skating number in her first skating show, a heartfelt piece choreographed in honor of her grandfather. Beyond the rink, Ivanna excels in academics, band, and sports, demonstrating the same dedication and drive that define her skating practice.

Currently working toward her first Achievement Tests, Ivanna is gearing up for an exciting performance at the club’s Spring Showcase in June. The El Centro Artistic Skating Team and the Last Chance Dance Skaters Club are proud to support Ivanna’s journey with this scholarship, which includes assistance with equipment, costumes, and lessons.

Please join us in congratulating Ivanna Otero, a shining star and the very first recipient of our “Skating Scholar” Teen Scholarship. We can’t wait to see her continue to roll toward greatness!