Christie Blewett Receives Kay Daugherty Arts Educator Award!

St. Mary’s County Arts Council is proud to announce that Christie Blewett from Chopticon High School has been selected to receive the Kay Daugherty Arts Educator of the Year Award!

Through peer recommendation and a reviewing committee from the Arts Council, Ms. Blewett was chosen to be the recipient of this award as well as $500 in appreciation of her dedication and above-and-beyond contributions as an arts educator in our community.

The St. Mary’s County Arts Council received this nomination from Tammi Grant, a theatre parent and CHS Booster Club member. Christie Blewett was highly recommended both by Tammi and the many other supporters who wrote glowing letters of recommendation.

Christie’s desires and dreams were born from a very early age of performing, directing, and teaching. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre (with a minor in Music Education) and a Master of Fine Arts with several related credentials and continuing education completed in her field.

During Christie’s past five years at Chopticon High School, she has inspired many of her students to pursue their educational goals and careers in the Theatre Arts, related fields, and beyond. Ms. Blewett created a brand new “Show Troupe” class as she identified a strong need for a curriculum that incorporated a triad of dance, singing, and acting.

She has developed customized assignments specific for all her Academy of Visual Arts theatre students and has worked tirelessly to find visiting artists to engage with students with interesting and relative subject materials.

This award is granted in memory and recognition of Kay Daugherty (1921-2006) who was well known for her love of art in a wide variety of different forms. Kay was one of the founding members of the St. Mary’s Arts Alliance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and came to know, befriend, and mentor many of the established and emerging artists of her time. Kay’s home was creatively adorned with many pieces purchased from local artists including an infinite rainbow of paintings, prints, etchings, stained glass panels, collages, weavings, and sculptures.

Realizing that the youth of our community hold the keys to the future, Kay held a deep admiration not only for the student artists also but for their instructors as well. In 2019, a new award was created in honor of Kay Daugherty in recognition of an outstanding arts educator currently teaching at the St. Mary’s County, Maryland public school system.

Christie Blewett has established strong professional and positive relationships with students, parents, and her instructors. She has been consistently supportive and dedicated to the many different branches of the Chopticon High Theatre Arts Program and we are honored to recognize her as this year’s award recipient.

Visit here to learn more about the Theatre Arts program at Chopticon High School!