The Award Winning MPAC Volunteer Directors

Keely Jardell (Director/Founder of MPAC) Mrs. Jardell is currently the owner of Keely Jardell’s School of Dance, which she has owned and operated for twenty-five years. She has taught dancing for 28 years. Keely received her BS Degree in Dance and Special Education from Lamar University. Her choreography has received many Regional and National titles throughout the years. Keely’s dancers have been invited to perform all over the United States and in Spain. In 1996, her dance team performed at the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Both the 1996 and 1998 dance teams were named Grand Champions at the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleading Dance Competition. In 2000, her dancers were named Junior National Champions. Also in 2000, forty-two dancers traveled to Washington D.C. and New Your City, where they performed and took dance classes in New York City. The 2004 competition team traveled to New York City to compete with students from all over the United States, winning Most Entertaining and 2004 National Champions. The 2006 competition team won National Grand Champions in San Antonio. In the summer of 2007 the competition team was invited to compete and perform at Disney World. The 2008, 2009, and 2010, and 2011 Competition Team won National Grand Champions. In 2012, the team traveled and competed for Celebrity Dance aboard a cruise ship and took home another National Championship. KJSD was recently ranked #3 dance studio in the state of Texas by Dance Magazine. Many former students now are studio owners, choreographers, and have been dancing professionally around the United States. Keely is married to Bill Jardell and they have two beautiful children, Will, who is a graduate of Texas A&M University; and, Mackenzie, a former Rangerette, who is now attending North Texas University. She would like to thank her family, staff, and friends for always supporting her love of Dance and for remembering “we are family”.

Kim Hawkins (Choreographer/Assistant Director) Mrs. Hawkins has been a teacher at Keely Jardell’s School of Dance (KJSD) for 16 years. She received a BS Degree in Education from Lamar University. Kim has choreographed many tap and clogging routines. Her choreography has been awarded many top Regional and National awards. Kim recently choreographed a clogging routine for KJSD Competition Team, which won 2006 National Champion in San Antonio. She brings her expertise to the stage in Whimsical. She performed with the team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She is married to Reagan Hawkins and they have a beautiful daughter, Isabelle, and a precious son, Joseph. Kim is a kindergarten teacher at Langham Elementary in Nederland.

Jessica Blanchard (Choreographer/Assistant Director) is a graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School where she served as a Lieutenant of the PN-G Indianettes. After high school, Jessica attended Lamar University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in both Marketing and Family Consumer Sciences. Following college graduation, she continued her education with Texas Teachers and received her teaching certification in Special Education and FCSC. This is Jessica’s sixth year teaching at Nederland High School. Jessica received her formal dance training at Keely Jardell’s School of Dance, and since has continued to teach dance for KJSD for the past 16 years. During her time as a student, she danced competitively on the KJSD competition team. She traveled, competed, and performed across the United States during her time on the competition team and won several regional and national titles during her time as a member. She now choreographs pieces for the KJSD competition team and her pieces and choreography have been awarded numerous titles throughout the years. Jessica also choreographs for the Westernaires and other drill teams across Texas. This is Jessica’s third year as the Assistant Director of the Nederland Westernaires. She is married to Tony Blanchard and they have a three year old daughter named Kate.

Shelby Rinehart (Choreographer/Assistant Director) Ms. Rinehart is a graduate of Nederland High School where she was Student Body President and a Varsity Co-head Cheerleader. She is currently attending Lamar University to pursue a degree in Communications. This is her second year teaching at KJSD. She was a student at KJSD for 15 years and a member of MPAC for 11 years. Shelby has played the roles of Smucky Lucky, JoJo, Snow Queen, Sour Kangaroo and Mayzie. As a student, she received the Outstanding Student Award in 2003, Dance Achievement Award in 2008 and the Senior Scholarship in 2011. Shelby was a member of the KJSD Competition Team for 5 years in which they won several National and Regional titles. Shelby has danced with the Competition Team in Disney World and on a cruise ship to Mexico. In her most recent competitive season, she and two fellow dancers took home the National Champion Title for their trio. She also received a scholarship to take dance classes in New York City.

Lauren Konjoyan (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Caitlin Davis (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Brooke Sonnier (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Jenna Hawkins (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Chelsea Clack (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Marlee Garrison (Choreographer/Assistant Director)

Katelyn LeBaron (Choreographer/Assistant Director)