Sonoma Valley art students awarded 4-year scholarships to SSU – Sonoma Index-Tribune

Ivy Borloz and Noah Malone, 2025 graduates of Sonoma Valley High School with dreams of pursuing arts careers, received a huge boost this spring when they were given full four-year Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships to Sonoma State University.
Two graduates of Sonoma Valley High School’s class of 2025 with dreams of pursuing arts careers received a huge boost this spring when they were given full four-year scholarships to Sonoma State University.
Ivy Borloz and Noa Malone were both awarded a Sonoma State University Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship, sponsored by Sonoma International Film Festival. The scholarships will cover the students’ housing, meals, tuition and equipment, as long as they remain enrolled in their arts program and adhere to guidelines.
Kevin McNeely, president and CEO of the KHR McNeely Family Fund, which is a supporter of the scholarship and the university’s cinematic arts and technology bachelor’s degree program, said Borloz is a “joyful, kind and artistic soul.”
“She flourished in the Sonoma Valley High School media arts program for two years,” he said. “She developed shows for weekly broadcasts as a ‘weather wizard’ and created professional advertising campaigns and several short films. Her advanced level skills in media arts will benefit the cinematic arts and technology program at Sonoma State University.”
Peter Hansen, the media arts teacher at Sonoma Valley High School, singled out Borloz’s willingness to learn and explore.
“She never shied away from trying new things,” he said. “Ivy seemed fearless in the pursuit of fun through art, specifically media arts. I was also taken by her humble and kind spirit and sense of gratitude despite some personal setbacks.”
Borloz became interested in cinema in her childhood.
“But it wasn’t until I actually joined the media arts elective at the high school that I realize all the potential it held,” she said.
In addition to taking media arts classes, she took art classes and a dance class at Sonoma Valley High School.
“They all helped me in a similar way, which was providing excitement and fulfillment to my life,” Borloz said. “Even when a project got difficult, the satisfaction of pushing through and being able to see my final creation really sparked something inside of me.”
She said learning that she received the scholarship to Sonoma State was one of the proudest moments of her life.
“Under normal circumstances, I would be limited by money and academics, but getting a full free ride to a state university because of my passion for art changed everything,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to joining Sonoma State University’s film department. I’ve heard amazing things about it and I’m excited to meet other young people who share my passion on a greater scale.”
Borloz said she enjoys filming music videos and advertisements, and might choose to forge a career in one of these fields.
Malone, the other scholarship recipient, first became interested in music after his mother, Laishah Dean, signed him up for Valley Vibes Youth Orchestra, a free after-school music program.
“I fell in love with classical music and the viola, and have been playing ever since,” he said.
Malone said that opportunities for musicians, especially string players, are sparse at Sonoma Valley High School, though.
“I took the beginning instrumental class my sophomore year and have played a couple times with our band, but other than that, most of my music was made outside of school,” he said.
He now works as a paid intern with Valley Vibes Youth Orchestra and has played with college and other youth orchestras.
“I have also taken the art class offered at Sonoma Valley High School, and while it was not directly related to music, I found the creative thinking involved helped with my music,” he said.
Hansen, who does the initial vetting process of scholarship candidates, said one of Malone’s friends recommended that he be considered.
“He is one of his dear friends, a fellow artist who was aware of the opportunity, and approached me with a heartfelt plea that I consider Noa,” Hansen said. “I met with Noa several times and found him perfectly aligned with what Sonoma State University has to offer him. Like Ivy, he was very humble, genuine and appreciative of all he has been given.”
Malone is looking forward to attending the university. He has been playing with its symphony orchestra, and plans to continue to do so.
“I already have had many great experiences with the university,” he said. “I love the school and am extremely grateful that I will be able to pursue my passions there.”
He is most interested in music performance — specifically on the viola — which he intends to pursue as his major.
“I love music and playing it has been a major part of my life since I first started,” he said. “I also have always wanted to study more music theory. I have attempted simple compositions in the past, but a deeper understanding of harmonic structure would make the process much clearer and improve my playing.”
While he is open to whatever career opportunities that arise, Malone is clear that he would love to work as an orchestral musician.
“The experience of playing with other musicians is amazing, and the waves of sound are even more potent from within the orchestra than from the audience,” he said.
Malone and Borloz will join six other Sonoma Valley students who have been awarded the Sonoma State University Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship.
McNeely said that all of the previous scholarship recipients are very happy at Sonoma State University, with no plans to depart.
“They bring an energy and entrepreneurial spirit to the campus, running film festivals, have been hired by Sonoma State University to manage social media campaigns, and are building an artistic energy befitting of their tenure at Sonoma Valley High School media arts,” he said. “Many are also helping younger professors as team leads and mentors to younger students and peers.”
Hansen said that one of the recipients, Jacob Ceron, was given weekly, ongoing employment by the Associated Students of Sonoma State University to produce social media and other content for the school.
“Also, Adriel Velazquez found the confidence, social skills and management experience to become the venue manager for Sebastiani Theatre during the 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival, at which he excelled at every turn,” he said.
Hansen feels that the scholarship program has helped the other recipients in a variety of ways.
“Not every student is ready to leave home,” he said. “Attending a four-year university in their own backyard gives them confidence and a sense of belonging among their peers that go far and wide. College is simply unattainable financially for many students, and while we are blessed with an award-winning junior college, there is nothing like living in a dorm and living the campus culture of a university system.”
Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at daniel.johnson@sonomanews.com.

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