Movers & Shakers Gala Raises Money for Scholarships!

More than 450 guests gathered at Lakeland College on May 14 for a spectacular evening of entertainment, multi-course gourmet food, fellowship and fundraising for scholarships.

The eighth annual Movers & Shakers Gala, was held on Saturday, May 16, at Lakeland College, introduced an entirely new format, and helped created new scholarships helping nine local high school students pay for their postsecondary education.

In previous years, Sheboygan County "celebrities" showed off their best dance moves to raise money for local charities and nonprofit organizations. This year, nine acts—from live music to speed painting to literature reading—showed off some of the talent in Sheboygan County.

Liesl Testwuide, publisher of the globally popular website "Hairpin Turns Ahead, won the 2015 Movers & Shakers Gala championship, which goes to the act with a combination of the best judges' scores and the most purchased votes.

Winning the "Judges' Choice" award was Sheboygan North High School's renowned student drumline.

"We were pleased with the new format this year," said Deborah Wente, a member of the Lakeland Board of Trustees and the chair of the Movers & Shakers organizing committee. "Our planning committee created a night that offers a new experience which surprised our returning supporters and impressed new guests.

"The community support and volunteer interest for Movers & Shakers continues to be strong. We have a large group of local companies and guests who give financially to make this evening successful."

New this year, each act sponsor has partnered with Lakeland College to create a $5,000 college scholarship for nine local high school seniors. Students can attend any accredited college or university with the award, but if they attend Lakeland, the scholarship will increase to $10,000.

In its previous seven years, Movers & Shakers has raised more than $1.6 million.

Major sponsors of this year's Gala are the Frank G. and Frieda K. Brotz Family Foundation (dinner sponsor), Sargento Foods Inc. (reception sponsor), Prevea Health and Studio Gear Technology (technology sponsors). Additional event sponsors include Zimmermann Printing and Canopies Events with Distinction.

Judges for the evening included Sebastian Schmidt, Wally Waldhart, Amee Salzwedel and Sandi Vasatka and the 2015 lineup included:

• A Shadow Dance was choreographed and performed by the nationally acclaimed Dollhouse Dance Factory. This act featured illuminated dancers casting artistic, rhythmic shadows from behind a screen. This act was sponsored by the Grover Family Foundation and a scholarship went to a Sheboygan South High School student.
• Members of the Van Horn Automotive Group performed a group glow dance in the dark, wearing special, colorful battery-operated costumes that will light up the room. This dazzling routine featured creative choreography and eye-catching effects. This act was sponsored by The Van Horn Automotive Group and a scholarship went to a Sheboygan County Christian High School student.
• Liesl Testwuide, publisher of the globally popular website "Hairpin Turns Ahead," read one of her favorite pieces from her collection of stories that navigate life's twist, turns and inevitable changes. Her work has been featured on the Today Show, the U.K.'s Daily Mail, The Huffington Post and Germany's Bild. She was sponsored by Festival Foods and a scholarship went to a Sheboygan North High School student.
• Playing popular music to groove to, Freewheel is a local band made up of brothers who play a wide selection of tunes from the 1990s to current hits. Comprised of Andrew, Daniel, Benjamin and Patrick Feldmann, Freewheel won a company-wide talent contest at Sargento Foods for the opportunity to perform at the Gala. The group was sponsored by Sargento Foods Inc. and a scholarship went to a Plymouth High School student.
• Dynamic, award-winning artist Jason Prigge offered a high-energy demonstration on how to create a work of art at a masterfully fast pace in a style called speed painting. Prigge, who owns a studio in Manitowoc, painted a colorful, intricate portrait of Jimmy Hendrix on a large canvas in less than the time it takes for the song he played to finish. He was sponsored by Legend Larry's and a scholarship went to a Sheboygan North High School student.
• Lakeland College student Leo Liu joined forces with established local blues musicians to form The Hot Shots, a fresh and funky fusion of old-school and new-school blues. Liu, who studied electric guitar at Lakeland with Water Street Hot Shots' Michael Lee Ammons, hails from China, but has always loved American blues and jazz music. Joining Liu and Ammons was bassist Alan Mock and drummer Steve Irby. They were sponsored by the Zieve Family Foundation and a scholarship went to an Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School student.
• Dr. Toby Watson, a self-taught pianist, got the evening off to a rousing start by delivering a performance created especially for the Gala. He was sponsored by Ansay & Associates and a scholarship went to a Living Word Lutheran High School student.
• Sheboygan North High School's renowned student drumline has been wowing fans for years at local basketball games. The drumline created a routine exclusively for the Movers & Shakers Gala, an unconventional performance surprised even their biggest fans. The group was sponsored by Wells Fargo and a scholarship went to a Sheboygan North High School student.
• Well-known funny couple Andi and Ben Igowsky pulled out all the stops in an original musical comedy performance. Andi is a pediatric dentist with a stellar voice and Ben is in sales. Their combined personalities brought a one-two punch of true talent and natural wit. They were sponsored by Snap-On Tools and a scholarship went to a Howards Grove High School student.

Relive the magic of Saturday night's Movers & Shakers Gala by viewing and downloading professional photos from the event.