KOHLER, Wis. – January 29, 2018 – The winners of the 21st annual Gingerbread Festival competition have been announced by Kohler Foundation. Throughout the month of December, the Waelderhaus was host to a delicious collection of houses, barns, castles, and Christmas villages.  Cash prizes, based on votes tallied from a record 8,800 visitors, are being awarded in six categories. The overall highest vote-getter of the festival was the creative and detailed depiction of “Tree Living” by Lake Country Academy’s Middle School students.

The first place winners in each category were awarded $500. They include:

Pre-school: Kohler Public School (Jr. Kindergarten class of Lisa Cornielson) “Whoville”
Grades K-2: Kohler Public School (2^nd  grade class of Mrs. Farwig) “On Your Mark, Get Set, Go to the Reindeer Races”
Grades 3-5: Lake Country Academy (3^rd grade class of Mrs. Redell & Mr. Schoenauer) “Native American Village”
Grades 6-8: Lake Country Academy  (6-8^th grade classes of Mrs. Smith) “Tree Living”
Grades 9-12: Sheboygan County Christian High School (Ms. Brown’s class) “Vibrant Victorian”
Community Groups: Milestones Adult Family Home (Lisa VerVelde) “A Crystal Christmas!”

Second place winners earned a $250 cash prize.  They include:

Pre-school: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth (Ms. Christian’s 4K class) “I’ll be Home for Christmas”
Grades K-2: Kohler Public School (Ms. LaDuke’s 2^nd grade class) “Let There be PEACE on Earth”
Grades 3-5: Kohler Public School  (Ms. Roeber’s 4^th  grade class) “The Village of Legos”
Grades 6-8: Horace Mann Middle School (Ms. Elizabeth Madgwick) “Frosted Winter Cottage”
Grades 9-12: Random Lake High School (Ms. MacDonald Crafts II) “McDonalds Farm”
Community Groups: Mosel Farm & Home 4H Club (Donna Schwinn-Roblee, advisor) “Little House in the Woods”

Third place honorees and recipients of a $100 award are:

Pre-school: John Michael Kohler Art Center/Sheboygan Area School District (Keely Phippen) “The Beautiful “Holly” Jewel Home”                                       

Kohler Public School (Mrs. Magel 2^nd grade class) “Mrs. Magle’s Funny Farm”
Grades 3-5: Sheboygan Falls Elementary  (Mrs.Fiorini’s  Art Enrichment) “Holiday Castle”
Grades 6-8: St. John Lutheran School Plymouth (Ms. Grebe’s 7/8 grade Art class) “Krispy Island”
Grades 9-12: Random Lake High School (Ms. MacDonald’s Crafts II) “McDonald’s”
Community Groups: RCS Empowers (Ms. Morse’s Aktion & Day Service Class) “Annie Takes New York City!”

For more information about the Waelderhaus, upcoming events, and view photos of all the Gingerbread creations in this year’s Festival, visit www.KohlerFoundation.org or ‘Like’ Kohler Foundation on Facebook.

The Waelderhaus is managed by the Kohler Foundation, a private, non-profit foundation that supports the arts, education, and art preservation initiatives.

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