Lakeland won the silver award in Best Practices in Fundraising and Development in the CASE District V competition, which includes colleges and universities in the Great Lakes region. Lakeland was in the category of schools with an enrollment of 2,999 or fewer full-time equivalents.

The Movers & Shakers Gala featured eight well-known area celebrities in a setting complete with red-carpet glitz, glamour and gourmet cuisine. Lakeland's Todd Wehr Center was transformed into a beautiful ballroom, including wall-to-wall carpeting, a massive lighting setup and huge video screens that let a who's who of Sheboygan County showcase their best moves.

The celebrities were each paired with a professional dancer, and after months of training, they competed to win the support of three professional judges and nearly 500 guests. Guests were allowed to "buy votes" to support their favorite dancer, which made the event interactive for the audience.

There was a central planning committee of 13 people chaired by Deb Wente, a member of the Lakeland Board of Trustees. The committee included two members of the SSO Board of Directors, the president of the Lakeland College Alumni Association, three other Lakeland graduates and two members of Lakeland's faculty.

A total of 42 full-time Lakeland staff members played significant roles in the event - everything from fundraising to PR to facilities to IT and business office needs. The SSO's two full-time staff were also heavily involved. EventWise, a local event-planning business, was used as a consultant to the planning committee. There were over 100 volunteers that served dinner, worked as bartenders, assisted the dancers and filled numerous other roles.

CASE is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications and development. CASE's membership includes more than 3,300 colleges, universities and independent elementary and secondary schools in 54 countries around the world.

This star-studded night featured eight well-known area celebrities in a setting complete with red-carpet glitz, glamour and gourmet cuisine. Lakeland College's Todd Wehr Center was transformed into a beautiful ballroom, including wall-to-wall carpeting, a massive lighting setup and huge video screens that let a who's who of Sheboygan County showcase their best moves.

The celebrities were each paired with a professional dancer, and after months of training they competed to win the support of three professional judges and nearly 500 guests, who were busy buying votes throughout the evening. Yes, these dancers could be bought!

Deborah Wente, chair of the Movers & Shakers Gala and a Lakeland trustee, said the glamorous evening was a rousing success, setting a standard for fundraising events in the region.

"Our first event surpassed our wildest expectations," Wente said. "Our goal was to deliver a night that offered something special and unique, and the feedback we've received is that we certainly delivered.

"There were a number of people attending our event that have been supporting events like this for years in our community, and they can't ever recall experiencing something quite like this. It was very special, and we couldn't be happier with what we have been able to do for these two deserving organizations."

Michael Stayer-Suprick danced the fox trot and took home the first title, topping a field that included some of Sheboygan County's biggest names. Stayer-Suprick is president of West Shore Industries, specializing in consumer displays and exhibits, and a veteran of service to non-profit organization boards throughout Sheboygan.

The other seven dancers were:

• Nellie Schmitt, a busy community activist who is perhaps best known for her role as Patsy Cline in a local production of "Always ... Patsy Cline." She danced the rumba.
• Michael Brotz, president/CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Plastics Engineering Company, a Brotz Family owned and operated manufacturing firm in Sheboygan. He danced the fox trot.
• Laura E. Kohler, senior vice president of human resources for Kohler Company, who has a long history of involvement in and support of arts and education. She danced the cha-cha.
• Anne Nemschoff, a communications and marketing consultant with more than a decade of experience leading award-winning public relations campaigns for a client roster that includes nationally-recognized brands across the Midwest. She danced the jive.
• David Quasius, president of Quasius Construction, Inc., a provider of general construction services, established in 1891. He is a third generation family owner and a prominent community volunteer. He danced the American tango.
• Lois Pauls, a long standing volunteer and supporter of education and the arts in Sheboygan, who co-founded the Sheboygan Symphony Friends, was a charter board member of the Weill Center and president of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Friends. She danced the waltz.
• Louie Gentine, president-Consumer Products Division, Sargento Foods, and a third-generation family owner. He served management roles in marketing, production and procurement prior to his current position. He danced the East Coast swing.

It was a full evening that alternated between celebrity dancing, a multi-course gourmet meal and a number of unique live auction items. The meal was prepared by Lakeland's food service and served by over 100 enthusiastic volunteers from Lakeland, the SSO and the community. Guests sat in beautifully-decorated tables surrounding the dance floor.

Live auction items included the opportunity to build a two-room school in Malawi, Africa, win a spot as a dancer for the 2009 Movers & Shakers Gala, take the podium to conduct the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra for a piece during their Christmas Treasures concert this December and win dance packages to Buenos Aires, Vienna and Sevilla, Spain.

Did you make a pledge to the Annual Fund this year during the phonathon? Has it been a while since you've supported your alma mater financially? Are you a recent graduate who is looking to give back to the school you cherish? Maybe you have just been thinking about a tax-deductible gift to Lakeland College.

No matter the reason you have not yet given to Lakeland, there is still time to do your part. The Lakeland College 2007-2008 Annual Fund is in need of a few good donors. Your gift to Lakeland provides support for many programs at our campus including scholarships for students like you were, funding for faculty salaries and professional development to improve the already superb quality of our instructors, support of academic and extracurricular programs like you were once a part of, and the maintenance of Lakeland's beautiful campus - just to name a few!

If you would like to support Lakeland's Annual Fund, no matter how much or how little, it is sincerely appreciated by the students, staff, faculty, alumni, and friends of the college. You can do your part by making a gift online or using the envelope included in the LAKELAND magazine. Remember, the Annual Fund is the best way for you to support Lakeland. It is all about providing educational opportunities, enabling great teachers to impact the lives of young people, and giving back to help others to help themselves.