Home News NATIONAL THEATRE AWARD WON BY BLYTHEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

NATIONAL THEATRE AWARD WON BY BLYTHEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

8/26/2021

"Plant your feet and tell the truth” is a familiar phrase that Sandra Dietel passes on to her theatre students at Blythewood High School and she has earned another accolade because of it. Dietel is the 2021 recipient of the F. Loren Winship Secondary School Theatre Award. Teaching teenagers to plant their feet and tell the truth is something Dietel says is not only giving them the basic foundation for strong acting but a guidepost for traveling through life with integrity, one of the life and career characteristics that South Carolina is striving to pass on to their high school graduates.

“Students who become involved in high school theatre programs learn skills that go far beyond the stage. While working together on a production, students engage in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, teamwork, communication and creative innovation. It also takes perseverance and a strong work ethic to successfully mount a theatrical production,” said Dietel. “F. Loren Winship knew the wide reaching benefits to students of including a theatre program in secondary education. I have been fortunate to do this work at Blythewood and am humbled and honored to receive an award in Dr. Winship's memory.”

Former student and mentee, Clyde Moser says nine years ago he came to Blythewood High unsure about many things, and Dietel helped him focus. “She is the consummate professional and is always doing what it takes to make students feel accepted and wanted and develop as artists. She inspired me to teach and I’m pursing a master’s degree in theatre,” said Moser.

“Sandra Dietel's love for theatre and students is evident in all that she does. Richland Two is fortunate to have such talented teachers who share their love and passion for the arts on a daily basis,” said Dr. Wendy Campbell, Richland School District Two Coordinator of Fine Arts.

The award is named in honor of F. Loren Winship, director of drama and theatre activities for the Texas University Interscholastic League, whose efforts helped Texas become the first state to adopt a certification program for high school drama teachers.

Dietel holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida and a master’s in theatre from the University of South Carolina.