Montclair State Dancer Performs on Ellen

Evan Ruggiero with Ellen Degeneres

Montclair State University musical theatre major and tap dancer Evan Ruggiero performed last semester on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where DeGeneres presented him with a $10,000 scholarship from Shutterfly. During his appearance on the show, Ruggiero discussed his battle with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer that led to the loss of the lower half of his right leg.

But that has never stopped him. A week after Ruggiero finished intensive chemotherapy in October 2011 he resolved to continue tap dancing. Ruggiero appeared on Ellen on his 23rd birthday. “It was a great way to spend my birthday,” he said.