Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area Presents Annual Awards

The Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area presented awards honoring individual achievement, organizational excellence, outstanding programming and dedicated volunteerism during its annual Heritage Awards Reception on Nov. 13, 2024 at the Dorchester Center for the Arts. The awards recognize accomplishments in helping to preserve and promote Dorchester County’s local culture and history.

Heritage Area representatives and awardees: Front row: Volunteer of the Year - Peter Barclay; Veronica Taylor, Organizational Excellence - Groove City Black Heritage & Culture Group; and Individual Achievement - Renna McKinney. Back row: Heritage Consultant Julie Gilberto-Brady; Heritage Board Chair Midge Ingersoll; Heritage Board Member and DCA Executive Director Barbara Seese; Tourism Director Holly Gilpin; Betsy Malkus, Adrian Holmes and Jermaine Anderson - Outstanding Program; and Heritage Board Chair Tom Bradshaw.

The honorees included a lifelong preservation advocate dedicated to preserving a historic church and cemetery with ties to Harriet Tubman, an organization that showcases Dorchester County’s diverse cultures, an event celebrating the local men who served in the U.S. Colored Troops, and a volunteer whose efforts help ensure that maritime history is appreciated by new generations.

The event, which was attended by more than 60 people, featured displays from local heritage partners who have received mini-grants and Maryland Heritage Areas funding to support their own projects. 

“We are especially fortunate here in Dorchester County to have so many people – like those honored here tonight – who lend their passion, their time and their talents to preserving and promoting our heritage and culture,” Bradshaw said. “All of you truly make a difference in showcasing and demonstrating what makes Dorchester County unique.”

In addition to the Heritage Awards, the honorees received citations on behalf of State Sen. Johnny Mautz and Del. Tom Hutchinson.