Shelby Pelzer has attended Dance Atlantic, a studio owned and taught by Ricci McLaren, since she was three years old. Besides taking dance classes, Pelzer is also involved in competition at the studio and dance team outside of Dance Atlantic. Pelzer is most proud of “doing competition solos for Dance Atlantic’s competition team.” She also dances with her younger sister Jenna at the studio and in competitions and her two stepsisters Brooke and Abbi Adams attend dance in another town.

Pelzer lives in Elliott next door to her grandma with her mom Missy, stepdad Brandon and sister. She also has a dad Nick, stepmom Heather and stepbrother Skyler.

Getting her first cat Piper when she was four impacted Pelzer’s life because it turned her “into a cat person.” She has eight cats that she considers her “fur babies.” When Pelzer was young, she wanted to be a vet but realized she would “have to put cats down,” and this would be too difficult for her. She said she will miss her cats when she leaves for college.

When Pelzer has free time she likes to watch “Dateline” or play outside with her cats but can also be found working at Akin Building Center or Walmart. “My favorite place is the beach because I love hearing the sounds of the waves and reading a book there,” Pelzer said.

Pelzer loves traveling to California, where she will be moving in July to attend Orange Coast College in the fall. She plans to later attend West Coast University where she will finish her four-year degree for dental hygiene and minor in Spanish.

Pelzer is excited to expand her horizons after high school in a new and vibrant environment.