Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan The Shawano Community High School Jazz I band, under the direction of Christopher Kent, provides pre-dinner entertainment at Friday’s Shawano Dollars for Scholars Gala at The Gathering.
A quote from Walt Disney seemed appropriate for the setting Friday night, as community members and supporters of Shawano Dollars for Scholars gathered in the Enchanted Forest.
The dreamlike decor at The Gathering had been provided by the Shawano Community High School Class of 2017 for the high school prom, which was to be held at the same location Saturday night.
“Walt Disney once said, ‘all dreams come true if you have the courage to pursue them,’” said Troy Edwards, this year’s Dollars for Scholars president. “I want to thank everyone for joining us this evening so we can help others pursue their dream of post-secondary education.”
Dollars for Scholars is in its 23rd year in Shawano.
“What was started with business leaders to provide scholarships to a few students has grown into an organization with hundreds of individual donors and businesses providing scholarships to every graduating high school senior who applies,” Edwards said.
The organization has awarded $1.9 million to more than 1,600 students in its first 22 years.
Edwards said the numbers speak to how important the Shawano community views post-secondary education.
Board member Amy te Plate-Church, who took on master of ceremonies duties for Friday’s gala, said there was more bringing the attendees together than the great atmosphere, the fun and fellowship of the event.
“It’s about helping youth and helping dreams to come true,” she said.
She also said on a personal level it was an opportunity for her to give back to the community, “because I was so grateful for the scholarships that helped me to achieve my college dreams.”
Past President Michael Sleeper told the Leader that the annual spring event is a great evening for the community to come together for fun and fellowship, but also to generate additional revenue for the endowment fund.
He said the event typically raises about $20,000.
At the senior awards event at the high school Monday, Dollars for Scholars awarded $205,000 to graduating seniors.
Another roughly $250,000 will be awarded later this summer to Shawano Community High School graduates now in college.
“Initially this gala was the sole source of funds,” Sleeper said. “We worked really hard, invested the money wisely and grew to about $1 million in the endowment fund.”
Sleeper said much of the organization’s financial success can be attributed to the estate of Judge Michael Eberlein and his wife, Joanne, who left about $7.5 million to Dollars for Scholars.
“That enabled us to step up the number of scholarships and the value of scholarships to a level that we never imagined was possible,” he said.
“Judge Eberlein was a Shawano judge. He spent a lot of his time in juvenile court and he saw through his career that the students that had a good clear path of educational goals and objectives weren’t in his courtroom very often,” Sleeper said.
Local businesses and individual donors provided 14 different raffle packages for Friday’s event, with values ranging from $250 to $1,100.
There were also special drawings for endowment members and a live auction of floral planters and sports memorabilia.
Attendees were also able to view art displays created by Shawano high school students.