The Northeast Alabama Community College Foundation is excited to present “Stars Dancing for Scholarships” on Friday, May 8 featuring local celebrities dancing in a competition at The Building in Fort Payne. “The event is based on the television show Dancing with the Stars,” stated Heather Rice, NACC Development Director. “Local celebrities get to choose a dance and song of their choice and then perform at the event.” The dancers will be judged and a Judges’ Award will be presented at the end of the event. There will also be a People’s Choice Award for the couple raising the most money through ticket and table sales. Guests can bring cash the night of the event to vote for their favorite dancers.

Last year’s People’s Choice award winners are back! Brian Baine and Kristie Poe are ready to show you their dancing steps to a Swing dance. Brandon Barranco, professional ballroom instructor from Studio 3 in Rainsville has Brian and Kristie ready to win the judges award this year for first place. Kristie Poe, a resident of Fort Payne, is a 1984 graduate of Sylvania High School. She is employed with Western Sizzlin’ as their marketing manager. She is an avid volunteer for The American Cancer Society. She enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends. Brian Baine grew up in Fort Payne, graduated from Fort Payne High School and attended NACC. He is currently the Human Resources Manager for Foodland Plus. He is highly involved with many clubs and organizations of DeKalb County.

NACC’s very own Dr. Sharon Totten and Jason Broyles will be dancing Cha Cha. Dr. Totten is from Fort Payne and works as the college’s Director of Advising. She is a self-described “fitness fanatic”, who enjoys running, biking, Zumba and yoga. Sharon has three sons and five grandchildren, all of whom she hopes she does not embarrass with this dance. Jason Broyles is from Fort Payne and works as a draftsman at PlayCore. He also sings with the Contemporary Christian music group, Shadow of the Cross. He enjoys staying active, working out and running…but he loves cake more! This will be his first experience dancing competitively instead of in front of his bathroom mirror.

NACC Alum John Lyda, Jr. and his niece, Alicen Webb will be driving all the way from Birmingham to compete. Alicen has been dancing for 15 years. She began classes at age four learning ballet and tap. Her favorite style of dance is ballet, and she loves teaching younger kids and sharing her talent with others. John is a 16-year veteran of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, and currently is the Manager of Claims Operations. He also serves as a member of the Hoover City Council. John has a passion for his community serving in many other civic groups such as Hoover-Metro Kiwanis and Civil Justice Foundation. John was named “Top 40 Under 40” in 2012 by the Birmingham Business Journal. John supports NACC every time he gets an opportunity, including sponsoring and playing in the NACC Foundation Golf Classic each year.

NACC student Savannah Owens and alum James Seymour will be competing in the event. Savannah is a first year Theatre Scholarship student. She has performed in 17 NACC Theatre productions. Savannah has choreographed many of the shows and has choreographed for NACC Encore. She has taught ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip hop to children at Alley Kat Talent. She has been chosen by Director and Choreographer of Wicked to attend one week of classes at the Open Jar Institute in New York, Broadway’s best theatre training institute. James Seymour was also a NACC Theatre Scholarship student. He was in one production but created the light design for five shows. He now owns Full Cue Productions in Scottsboro focusing on light design, sound and video for events. He has produced events in Atlanta for South Wire Corporation, Toyota Motors in Huntsville, Ross Bridge in Birmingham and many events for NACC including the event he is dancing in!

Local Pharmacist Lotha Kilgore will be dancing Cha Cha with Diane Cox. Lotha attended Northeast Alabama Community College in 1965. Lotha thinks he can dance and, he would love for all his friends to come support him in the fund-raiser. Diane started dancing in 2002. She has trained with more than 15 of the top ballroom coaches in the country. She is a founding member of Tupelo Ballroom Dance Club and is on the administrative staff of the All Star Dance Camp. She teaches dance at the Senior Center in Fort Payne. Diane retired from PlayCore in 2014 and loves the retirement life!

“The event is really just for fun and to raise money for scholarships,” stated Rice. “Of course all fund-raising events through the NACC Foundation support scholarships for students attending Northeast.”

You can get “Stars Dancing for Scholarships” tickets by calling Heather Rice at college ext. 2301 or email riceh@nacc.edu. Tickets are $60.00 per person. The event starts at 6:00 pm with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

For more information about NACC, go to www.nacc.edu or download the college’s free App at the Apple App Store or by going to www.naccmobile.com.

Courtesy of Northeast Alabama Community College