by Rhonda Chambliss

COURTLAND
The Lambda Psi Omega Chapter held its Bi-Annual Cotillion Ball on June 3 in Southampton High School. This grand event was a celebration of the achievements of young ladies who are high school juniors and seniors.

The debutantes were presented to the theme of “Pearls of Excellence,” and all were adorned in flowing, white ballroom gowns and pearls. This event gave the students’ parents, relatives, friends, mentors and their community of support an opportunity to applaud them in a more formal way.

The evening highlight was the crowning of Miss Cotillion 2017, Keyana Yvonne Rose (Great Bridge High School), daughter of Mr. Corey Cason and Mrs. Traci Rose Tate. First Runner-Up winner was Jesikah Rena Benton (Lakeland High School), daughter of Mr. Alvin and Mrs. Felecia Wilson. Second Runner-Up winner was Amari Teree Long (Southampton High School), daughter of Ms. Chaquita Kindred.

Other debutantes presented were: Tionna Lateria Boone (Southampton High School), daughter of Mrs. Stacey Tate and Mr. Torrey Boone; Niara Imani Ford (Southampton High School), daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. H. Patrick Cason; Layla Tatyana Freeman (Southampton High School), daughter of Ms. Marilyn Lawrence Freeman and Mr. Guy Freeman Jr.; Nachelae Denise Harper (Franklin High School), daughter of Ms. Gloria Lassiter; Shemia Vinisna Jarrett (Southampton High School), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vincente Jarrett; Destynie Lakia Sebrell (Franklin High School), daughter of Ms. Jackita Walton; Precious Junicqua Stephens (Franklin High School), daughter of Ms. Markita Smith and Mr. Julius Stephens Sr.; Kaitlyn Holland Whitehead (Southampton High School), daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvester Whitehead.

Miss Erykah Harris, Miss Cotillion 2015, crowned the new Miss Cotillion. The title of Miss Congeniality was awarded to Kaitlyn Whitehead, and best scrapbook award was presented to Jesikah Benton.

At this year’s event, Miss Karmeshia Tuck, USA National Miss District of Columbia, addressed the debutantes with a Rites of Passage speech.

Prior to the Cotillion Ball, the debutantes participated in nine months of various educational, cultural, social and leadership activities.

Cotillion Chairman is Alfreda Talton-Harris and co-chairman is Ms. Sitrina Bynum. The chapter’s president is Dr. Cynthia Nicholson.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908. It is the oldest Greek lettered organization established by African-American, college-educated women.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of more than 265,000 members in approximately 983 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, South Korea, Bermuda, Japan, Canada and South Africa.

Led by International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-lettered organization for African-American women.”

For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit www.aka1908.com.