ST. PETERSBURG – The members of Zeta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. announced it will present 30 young ladies to society at its 8th Biennial Essence of Ebony Pearls Debutante Scholarship Cotillion at 7 p.m. Sat., April 4 at the Historic St. Petersburg Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N.
In partnership with the Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County, the sorority will feature 30 lovely and multi-talented young ladies including their escorts. The presentation will also feature the formal Debutante Waltz.
The purpose of the affair is to highlight achievements, social grace and provide scholarship opportunities to Pinellas County junior and senior high school girls. These young ladies will be recognized for their academic achievement, church, community and civic involvement.
As a part of their pre-pageantry activities, the young ladies have attended etiquette, health and wellness, poise, hair and skin care workshops. In the coming weeks, they will also participate in cultural activities, community service projects and a Debutante tea themed “An Afternoon of Pearls of Wisdom.”
Other program highlights included a gentleman’s etiquette and mentoring workshop for the young men who will serve as escorts during the cotillion. The workshop and mentoring activities were hosted by the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Theta Eta Lambda Chapter.
More than a thousand guests are expected to attend the event. The top four of the 30 debutantes who raised funds vying for the honor of Miss Debutante 2015, Miss First, Second and Third Attendants, will also receive scholarships to universities of their choice. Other honors presented that evening will be Miss Community Service, Miss Congeniality and Miss Supreme Service 2015. The Cotillion is a chapter fundraiser to benefit scholarships, chapter programs and community service projects.
The attire for the adult only event is formal and is by invitation only.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the oldest Greek-letter organization established in America by black women and was founded on Jan. 15, 1908, at Howard University. Led by International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, the organization connects thousands of college-trained women who give of themselves to support community service projects and scholarship programs.
