Attendees kept their cool as temperatures danced around 100 degrees July 15 at the Summer Debutante Ball. Thirty debutantes were presented without a single meltdown at an outdoor ceremony that began at 6 p.m. on the University of Denver campus. The young ladies were introduced by Fox-31 weatherman Chris Dunn.
The debutantes – all of whom are 2006 high school graduates with plans to continue their education at such schools as Vanderbilt, Amherst, Baylor, Colorado College, the University of Colorado, Arizona State University and the University of Kansas – were: Keegan Borgias, Kelly Buntmann, Ashley Conrad, Kelsey Cullen, Katie DeShetler, Chelsey Fishman, Molly Funk, Katie Gold, Sarah Goodyear, Katie Griffith, Sarah Haughey, Audra Hofer, Kylie Hower, Jordyn Jacobs, Morgan Kelce, Anne Kelly, Mari Anna Loftness, Kiki MacMillan, Akie Marsh, Aubrie Mindock, Emily Mitchell, Meredith Monson, Emily Rundles, Becky Schroeder, Sarah Schulte, Kelsey Schwander, Mary Sneed, Jessie Speich, Beth Tatlock, and Jenna Vogel.
They curtsied to a receiving line that included the ball’s chairwoman, Margaret Bell; co-chair Nancy Palmer; tiara mistresses Lillian Hartman Bell, Shelby Cohen and Caroline Molther; and Citizen of the Arts Award recipients Jeff and Jaylene Smith.
The traditional father-daughter dance, to the strains of “The Tennessee Waltz,” was next, followed by a social hour and LePetit Gourmet-catered dinner in a giant tent that Guenther Vogt and BJ Dyer of Bouquets had decorated in keeping with the ball’s Harmony Garden theme.
Debutante Aubrie Mindock, the daughter of Peter and Claire Mindock of Cherry Hills Village, is a competitive ski racer who competed in the Junior Olympics and lists champion Picabo Street as a major influence in her life. Mindoct will attend Fort Lewis College and hopes to make the U.S. Olympic ski team.
Another star athlete is Mullen graduate Emily Mitchell, who tied for third at state in the pole vault. She is coached by Pat Manson, an elite-level vaulter and veteran of three Olympic trials. She plans to go for a nursing degree from the University of Tennessee and hopes to spend time speaking to teens about nutrition.
Jenna Vogel, daughter of telecommunications executive Carl Vogel and his wife, Carol, was captain of Arapahoe High’s cheerleading squad and a student council officer; she also coached the swim team and was a member of the National Honor Society. Her plans include travel and obtaining her teacher’s certification.
Keegan Borgias has made mission trips to Africa and China and played lacrosse for Cherry Creek High School. She’s going to study sports medicine at Baylor. Chelsey Fishman, whose mother, Nanette, is active in Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, has participated in the Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure and will attend the University of Northern Colorado; Molly Funk was a member of the 2005 state champion synchronized swimming trio; the Bishop Macheboeuf High School grad also has won awards for cross-country, soccer and basketball.
Mari Anna Loftness, daughter of Deborah and Dr. Stanley Loftness of Greenwood Village, swims year-round with the Hilltoppers swim team and was a member of the St. Mary’s Academy team. She also volunteers at The Children’s Hospital, visiting patients and participating in activities with them. Bill and Deb MacMillan’s daughter, Kiki, had the highest grade point average in her Midland School sophomore and junior classes; she also served as head prefect there in 2005-06.
Emily Rundles, also a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy where she was senior student council secretary, says an international home stay in France has inspired her to return there one day to study fashion and business. At St. Mary’s, she was a member of the National Honor Society, played varsity basketball and track, and volunteered at the St. Elizabeth’s Soup Kitchen.
Becky Schroeder was captain of Arapahoe High’s cheerleading squad and belonged to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also volunteers at Littleton Hospital and dreams of traveling to Africa to help bring medical care to its AIDS population. Katie Gold was Cherry Creek’s varsity lacross goalie; she also ran cross-country, was an Academic All American and served as a peer ambassador.
Society editor Joanne Davidson can be reached at 303-809-1314 or jmdpost@aol.com.
