22 Ladies Feted At 54th Ball

By Emily Mukasa

The 56th Annual Debutante Presentation at the Denver Marriott Hotel was an emotional evening for the young ladies, parents, teachers, and well-wishers. The June 2nd event, organized by the Owl Club of Denver, honored 22 African-American debutantes, who are graduating seniors chosen for their outstanding academic achievements, community service, and moral character.

Keatra Nesbitt, a debutante graduating from Montbello High School, thought it was a brilliant program for recognizing young ladies’ accomplishments, and was thrilled to be a part of it.

“I am glad that they do it for all African-American ladies, because it is hard out there. So, to be honored and to show what the young ladies do is positive,” Nesbitt said.

The Denver Owl Club was started as a social organization by eight gentlemen, owls, in 1941. They later decided to do something for the community and educating young Black women became their priority.

Dr. Barnard Gipson, 85, who has been a club member for 47 years, said that honoring the debutantes is the best thing the club has ever done as far as motivating young people.

The club president, Marvin Pierce, said its main purpose is to focus on the ladies’ education and moral character.

To succeed in obtaining the debutante title, the young women have to be prepared to go through a formal selection process. Denver high school principals, college counselors, and deans present the Owl Club with lists of potential debutantes. The club also receives more than 140 applications from young women, of whom 50 are selected for interviews by club committee members and their wives, the owlettes.

This year, 22 young women – many of whom have also been recognized in the Who’s Who among America’s High School Seniors – succeeded in becoming 2007 Owl Club Debutantes.

During the presentation event, the girls wore white gowns and were walked down the aisle to the front stage by their proud fathers, as their biographies were narrated. They were later escorted off the stage by handsome young men.

The evening continued with ballroom dancing for the young women, first with their escorts and then with their fathers. Finally, they were able to cut loose to more popular, modern dance music with family and friends.

Later, scholarships of $1000 to $2,000 were awarded to eight debutantes by the club’s scholarship foundation. Recipients were chosen based on criteria such as financial need and being the first in her family to pursue college. Many other debutantes have been awarded scholarships from other organizations.

One of the club’s co-chairs, Skip Riley, 59, has been a member for 19 years. He commented that the club members’ efforts on this event were worthwhile and reminded the debutantes to keep a positive mind in life.

Riley’s message to the graduating seniors was, “Try to do the best you can. There are many obstacles, but go past them and try to achieve greatness.”

Rose Marie Allen, an owlette and narrator whose husband has been a club member for six years, advised the debutantes never to make stumbling in life their defining moment. She said that they should not forget who they are and what it took for them to get there.

“If they forget, let them think about their parents, and not do anything that they would not want their parents to know about,” said Allen, whose 24-year-old daughter attended her first debutante ball at 11 and became one later.

Seventeen-year-old debutante Shayla Yan plans on attending the University of Arizona. Her parents, Terry and Shirllynn Yan, are both 41 and church ministers. They were pleased to have their daughter honored among the other young ladies. They advised her to look to God in everything, and said they were so proud of her because she had to overcome so many challenges but stayed strong.

Although life has its ups and downs, Owl Club President Pierce recommended the debutantes should strive to attain their goals and realize it requires patience.

To follow-up with the debutantes as they progress through college, the club maintains a database of their contact information. The aim is to make sure the young women are still focused and doing well.

As for Nesbitt, the debutante from Montbello, she would love to come back one day to honor future debutantes and encourage them about life.

Editor’s note: For information about the Denver Owl Club, visit www.Owlclubofdenver.org.

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