Franchot to Present Schaefer Award to Choo Smith; Recognize Md. Masters Award Winners

–  Recipients to Be Honored At Baltimore County Ceremonies Wednesday

WHO:             Comptroller Peter Franchot

State and local elected officials

WHAT:          Comptroller Franchot will present his Maryland Masters Award to three Baltimore County students Wednesday. The award recognizes young artists with extraordinary artistic skills and vision for Maryland’s future. The award program began last year to celebrate students’ achievements through the arts and to showcase artwork of students from kindergarten to 12th grade for two months in the Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis. This year’s award winners are: Rhiley Baugher, a third grader at Oliver Beach Elementary School, for a jungle painting of a leopard; Lauren Cole, an eighth grader at Cockeysville Middle School, for a watercolor masterpiece of six-colored glass bottles; and Nicole Hutch, a 10th grader at Towson High School, for a still life drawing using charcoal.

Later in the day, Comptroller Franchot will present the sixth of this year’s William Donald Schaefer Helping People Awards Charles “Choo” Smith Jr., who has been a community leader and mentor for Baltimore County area youth. Mr. Smith, a former Harlem Globetrotter, founded Choo Smith Youth Empowerment, a non-profit organization that has worked with thousands of children to promote academic and athletic success. The Schaefer award, created by Comptroller Franchot four years ago, honors the legacy of public service exemplified by former Governor, Comptroller and Baltimore City Mayor William Donald Schaefer. 

WHEN           Wednesday, May 6, 2015                                                                 

    &                

WHERE:        9:30 a.m.                                             12 p.m.

                        Greenwood Mansion                          Charles Smith Jr. Offices

6901 Charles Street                             10045 Red Run Blvd.

Towson, MD 21204                            Owings Mills, MD 21117

CONTACT:  Jonathan Gold 410-260-7816 (office), 410-871-3435 (cell)