Event Location: Hotel Effie
Story & Photography by: Sonja Revells
Event Date: May 2, 2026
Community leaders, philanthropists, and guests dressed to the nines gathered at Hotel Effie Sandestin on May 2 for the inaugural Dancing with the Emerald Coast Stars benefit, presented by Seaside School in partnership with Fred Astaire Dance Studios Fort Walton Beach. Inspired by the hit television series Dancing with the Stars, the glamorous evening combined ballroom competition, community spirit, and fundraising in support of the Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project.
The evening featured local leaders stepping onto the dance floor alongside professional dancers, including Destin Mayor Bobby Wagner, Dr. Lindsey Hoppe of Emerald Coast 30A Smiles, Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty agent and Southern Sand star Whitney Cooley, and Seacoast Collegiate High School Principal Drew Ward. Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, live performances, and spirited audience participation as supporters voted for their favorite dancers throughout the competition.
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast President and CEO Trey Abshier served as the event’s founding sponsor, helping support an initiative focused on expanding educational opportunities throughout Walton County. Proceeds from the event benefit the continued growth of Seaside School’s educational campus, including Seacoast Collegiate High School, the Dual Enrollment Center developed with Northwest Florida State College, and The Accelerator, a future innovation hub designed for collaboration, workforce development, and student enrichment.
