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Six local celebrities and their professional partners danced their hearts out to benefit the teachers and students of Lake County Schools at the 18th Annual Stepping Out for Education, held July 26th and 27th at the Venetian Center in Leesburg. The signature event for the Education Foundation of Lake County raised over $89,000 for Lake County Schools Teacher Mentorship program and the state will match the total 100%.

Each team boot, scoot, and boogied the audience and judges out of their boots at the Wild Wild West…Saddle Up and Get Ready for the Ride themed evening. The celebrities included:

  • Jessica Giannini, Co-Owner & Vice President of GSB Construction & Development, Inc. and her professional partner Igor Puzhevich
  • Dr. Maen Hussein, MD, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute and his professional partner Lora Costantini
  • Dr. Terri Pfister Soos, Principal, Lake County Schools and her professional partner Jose “Ricky” Colon
  • James Justin Lenhart, Family Nurse Practitioner, Rivers Family Medicine and his professional partner Abbey Walsh
  • Lydialice Rodriguez, Practice Administrator, Advanced Behavioral Health Center and her professional partner Johnny Boulware
  • Captain Michael Marden, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and his professional partner Hannah Pickard

A panel of professional judges that included Anastassia Abramenko, Marta Lyszkowicz, and Andy Bradfield judged the teams’ two performances each night and combined the scores to award the top Male and Female Performer. The audience participated in voting for the audience choice performer each night with assistance from the Lake County Supervisor of Elections staff.

Friday night’s Top Female Performer was Jessica Giannini.
Friday night’s Top Male Performer was Dr. Maen Hussein.
Friday night’s Audience Choice winner was Dr. Terri Pfister Soos.

Saturday night’s Top Female Performer was Dr. Terri Pfister Soos.
Saturday night’s Top Male Performer was Dr. Maen Hussein.
Saturday night’s Audience Choice winner was Dr. Terri Pfister Soos.

The 2024 Influencer Award was won by Jessica Giannini.

The Overall Mirror Ball Winner was Dr. Terri Pfister Soos of Lake County Schools, pictured below.

The event was emceed by the two best looking cowboys in Lake County, and previous Stepping Out alums, Dr. Wade Winker and Marc Robertz-Schwartz. Both gentlemen worked tirelessly to help make this event a success.

A special thank you to our sponsors who included: Style Magazine, Dance It Studio, Citizens First Bank, Wharton-Smith Construction Group, City of Leesburg, Electric Services Inc., FASRO, United Southern Bank, McLin Burnsed, UDT, Renew Day Spa, Nobles Marine, Mathias Foodservice, Maggie’s Attic and Remsen Law, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Charities, Insight Credit Union, GSB Construction & Development, Florida Cancer Specialists, Eustis Roofing, Eustis Lakeside Dental, Bowen & Schroth, Advanced Behavioral Health Center, Addition Financial, Holiday Air Conditioning, Vita Coco, M & M Enterprises of Morriston Inc., Great Lakes Carpet & Tile, LLC., Ford Press, Duke Energy, and 1st Choice Door and Milwork.

Elizabeth Johnson , , homepage, In The News, News