John Hernandez is a Funeral Director with 23 years of dedicated experience, currently serving as the Director of Operations for the 17 funeral home and cemeteries in the greater Charlotte and Gaston County  areas. Throughout his career, John has exemplified compassionate care, leadership, and a commitment to providing superior service excellence to families during their most challenging times.

Born into a large, hardworking family as the youngest of 19  siblings, John grew up surrounded by love, laughter, and the vibrant traditions of his Hispanic heritage. Weekends were filled with family gatherings, large meals, and plenty of dancing—a passion that remains close to John’s heart. These early experiences shaped his deep appreciation for culture, family, and connection.

A fun fact about John is his appearance in the 2000 film, “All the Pretty Horses” starring Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz. If you look closely you can spot John showing off his dancing skills, adding an intriguing creative element to his diverse experiences.

John’s belief in the power of education and the potential of future generations is a cornerstone of his life. As the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree, he is a proud graduate Liberty University, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. This accomplishment ignited his dedication to mentoring and supporting youth in their journeys toward success.

Outside of his professional endeavors, John has built a strong foundation in his personal life. He has been happily married to his wife, April, for 24 years, and together they have two sons, Gabriel (22) and Nathaniel (19). He enjoys spending quality time with his family, cooking, and carrying on the traditions he grew up with—especially sharing meals and creating memories around the table.

John’s unwavering commitment to serving families with compassion, building strong community connections, and investing in the next generation exemplifies his values. With over two decades of experience, a love for his heritage, and a passion for giving back, John continues to be a guiding light for those he serves.

Victoria VanDyke Holbrook is proud to call Gaston County home. A former South Point Red Raider, she now lives in Gastonia with her husband, Blake, and their two young sons, Harrison (5) and Hampton (2). She graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, where she earned a degree in Commercial Voice and Entertainment Industry Studies. During her time at Belmont, Victoria was a charter member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Eta Phi Chapter and served as the sorority’s Community Service Director.

Passionate about giving back, Victoria is honored to serve as a current Board Member for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston. She also loves empowering young women through the Miss America Organization, a program that transformed her own life. Today, she continues to make an impact by serving on the Miss Gastonia Committee.

After working in the music industry, Victoria discovered her true calling in building a family and transitioned into Healthcare IT. She is now a Senior Strategic Account Executive at Microsoft, partnering with large healthcare systems across the country to enhance provider workflows, improve patient care, and ensure proper reimbursements. Victoria’s hard work and dedication have earned her global recognition as a "Top Performer" since joining Microsoft in 2018. In 2024, she was honored to join Microsoft’s prestigious Platinum Club, representing the top 1% of its workforce, while managing a book of business exceeding $75 million annually.

Victoria and Blake relocated from Nashville to Gastonia in 2020 to raise their family near loved ones and provide their children with the same small-town values and big-hearted community that shaped her upbringing. Supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston is a cause deeply close to her heart, as she’s seen the life-changing power of mentorship through her father, Darrell VanDyke, a dedicated teacher, and coach for over 45 years.

Victoria and her family are thrilled to help raise awareness and funds for this incredible organization. She hopes this event inspires others to get involved, invest in the lives of local youth, and experience firsthand the joy and fulfillment of making a difference. Together, we can create a brighter future for the children in our community and for those who dedicate their time and hearts to this mission.

Reilly Hovis was born and raised in Gastonia. He has been married for two years to his college sweetheart, Hallie Dean Hovis. He has twin sisters, Brittany and Ashley that still live in the area. 

Reilly attended Forestview High School and excelled as a member of the baseball team. He went on to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was recognized as an All American. 

Reilly was drafted in the 9th round by the Miami Marlins. He played professional baseball from 2015-2021. He played in the Toronto Blues organization as well as a host of others. He now works as a salesman in the Textile Industry for STI Fabrics. The company, located in Kings Mountain, was started by his grandfather and has been in operation since 1964!

Reilly is excited about the opportunity to participate in this year's Dancing for Future Stars!

Megan Ratchford Kieffer is a proud Gaston County native and has a deep-rooted passion for giving back to her community. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Clemson University and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Megan dedicated her career to helping youth as a School Counselor in the Gaston County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school systems.

In 2017, Megan and her husband, Will, returned to the area with their two children, Ford (9) and Vivian (7). They now reside in Belmont, where Megan continues to make a significant impact through her extensive volunteer work. She serves on the steering committee for the Community Foundation’s Next Generation Giving Circle, is a member of the Friends of the Library Board, and holds leadership roles for the PTO at JB Page Primary School and Belmont Central Elementary School. She’s also an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Belmont and the Town and Country Garden Club of Belmont. 

Megan’s commitment to community service began in high school when she volunteered many hours after school at the Boys and Girls Club. Today, she’s thrilled to partner with them again through Dancing for the Future Stars, raising funds and awareness for a cause close to her heart. When she’s not volunteering, Megan enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and hiking with her dog, Tootsie.

She hopes her dedication, energy, and love for her community will help make this event a huge success!  

Justin Lowe is married to Melissa Lowe, and they have 3 children, Joshua, Andrew, and Esther. Joshua is a member of the Church Triumphant. Together with his wife, he serves a Co-Senior Pastors for First United Methodist Church in Gastonia. Justin provides primary pastoral leadership for worship and administration ministries of First United Methodist Church. 

Justin has a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education with a concentration in Horticulture Science from North Carolina State University (in his opinion, the best university in the nation). Additionally, he has received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Asbury Theological Seminary with a concentration in worship and healing ministries. Justin serves in leadership as a board member for Crisis Assistance Ministry and on the Board of Ordained Ministry for the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. 

He also loves the arts and cooking for others or to be outdoors backpacking, climbing, and gardening. Hanging out around a campfire and enjoying God’s creation and fellowship with friends and family is his favorite pastime.

Justin's favorite scripture is John 1:6-9, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.  He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Abby Walden Peterson is a fourth generation Belmontian. Born and raised in Belmont, is now residing there with husband Jeff, daughter Henley and son Max. A rambunctious chocolate Lab, affectionately named “Stormy” joined the household on Christmas Day in 2023.

Abby is an active member of First Presbyterian Church Belmont, volunteering on the Children’s Committee, assisting with Feed the Children, is a former Deacon and Youth Advisor. Currently, a Board member of the Town and Country Garden Club, as well as Keep Belmont Beautiful Board, she also heads up the Beautification Committee for the Belmont Central PTO. Abby inherited the love of the outdoors from her parents.

In the past, Abby has volunteered with numerous community organizations including the United Way, March of Dimes, Belmont Optimist Club, Belmont Red Raiders Youth Cheer and Football organizations, Community Benefit Council, participated on Committees for the Gaston Country Club. Also served as a mentor and sponsored interns for Mayors Youth Employment Program of Mecklenburg County.

Abby holds an Associates of Arts Degree, a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication with a concentration in Advertising and Public Relations, and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration. Since college graduation, Abby has held several positions in the healthcare arena. Much of her career centered around mastering the skills to become an expert in air and ground medical transportation, in turn she became a Certified Medical Transport Executive. Currently, Abby is the Director of Domestic Business Development for an Air Medical Transport Company. This business provides Abby with the opportunity to assist families, fellow air medical peers and hospitals all over the country with long distance patient transport needs.

When Abby is not busy with her career or keeping Belmont beautiful; she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. She enjoys traveling and exploring different cities and cultures. Abby loves fishing, hunting, golfing, beach music, being near the water and watching sports including her love for the South Point Red Raiders, Wolfpack, Carolina Panthers, PGA and LIV golf.

Dance lessons began at age three and remained a constant source of enjoyment through elementary school, high school and college. Abby is excited to dance through this year while committed to raising funds to support the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston.

Meredith Pruitt is a graduate of Appalachian State University, where she earned a B.S. in Journalism. She later pursued a M.Ed. in Reading Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A native of Gastonia, Meredith graduated from Ashbrook High School, where she also volunteered at the West Gastonia Boys and Girls Club, teaching art classes during her high school years.

Meredith met her husband, Trey, at Junior Assembly, and the two have been married for 21 years. While her dance experience is limited to Junior Assembly instruction and dancing at Appalachian State parties, she is excited to continue learning and growing in this area.

An accomplished oil painter, Meredith is an active member of the Gaston County Art Guild Plein Air Painters and serves on the Guild’s board as the Ambassador.

Meredith and Trey live in Gastonia with their two children, Shelton, a sophomore at Stuart W. Cramer High School, and Coley, an 8th grader at Cramerton Middle School.