Sorority, fraternity to present debutantes, beaus

Published 5:58 pm Wednesday, June 7, 2023

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Lambda Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Franklin-Southampton (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. will present 11 young ladies and six young gentlemen to society at their Bi-Annual Ball on Saturday, June 10, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Southampton High School in Courtland.

A news release noted that this year’s debutantes are Diangeliz Barreto-Soto, Kameile Carrington, Katelin Dawson, ShaVaria Hillard, Samyra Middleton, Kiersten Nichols, Mia Ricks, Shaimeer Shearin, Zakiyah Smith, Iyana Taylor and Jamiyah Walker. Beaus are Shawn Battle, LaVonte Evans, Alvin Hicks Jr., Jordan Myrick, Justin Preau and Travain Wilkerson Jr. 

Over the past year, the debutantes and beaus have participated in enrichment activities that included the following: a social media challenge, a dress for success day, college tours, a Christmas parade, participation in the Trooper Hill Toy Drive, attendance at the Hip-Hop Nutcracker at Chrysler Hall, public speaking presentations, a formal dinner at Wydia’s Bistro, professionalism/business etiquette workshops, a financial literacy workshop and a trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. A photo shoot was held by Maria Benton, of RiaB Photography, on the campus of Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.

The students created and participated in fundraisers for the sorority and fraternity scholarship fund. All students that have been selected display high scholastic achievement, tenacity, commitment and good character, and they have met the challenges placed before them. 

The public is invited to join the debutantes, beaus, their parents, members of Lambda Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha and members of Franklin-Southampton (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. 

The highlight of the evening will be the crowning of Miss Cotillion 2023 and Mr. Beautillion 2023. The event will be hosted by Ayana Johnson, Miss Virginia Teen 2022, and the speaker for the evening will be Eugene Daniels, WVEC-TV 13 News anchor. Attire for the evening is Sunday’s Best.

Cherese Parker-Freeman, Norletta Edmond, Calvin Carter and Robert Hill are committee chairmen. Renna Ebron and Tim Mays are their chapter’s presidents. Admission is free and open to the public.

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. 

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