It didn’t matter if they had butterflies in their stomachs, or if their knees were a little wobbly as they walked down that long stretch of white carpet toward the stage. Pride always trumps nerves at the Owl Club Debutante Ball, and the energy and enthusiasm radiated by this year’s 33 debs left the 400-plus guests secure in the knowledge that the future’s in good hands.
Narrator Karen Marie Norman, whose husband, Reginald, served on the ball committee, recited interests and accomplishments as numerous as the debs themselves, but in the end, one commonality emerged: Each had a plan to help make her respective community a kinder, gentler place in which to live.
Adrienne Martie Elizabeth Bauduit, for example, begins her journey this fall by enrolling in the Spelman College/Georgia Tech dual-degree engineering program. After completing her studies in biomedical engineering, the former Boulder High School student council president plans to enter medical school to complete her goal of becoming an endocrinologist who can help people with diabetes prevent or lessen some of the serious issues that can result from this chronic disease.
Also setting out on a medical path is Jenna Marie Smith, a Faith Christian High School graduate who has received both an academic scholarship and a Trustees Grant to become a nursing major at Regis University. Her dream of becoming a registered nurse was solidified through the volunteer work she does at three area nursing homes. Eventually she’d like to open an orphanage in Africa to serve children left without parents because of the AIDS epidemic.
“My hope is to become a beacon to people in need,” she says.
Ashley Sanford Dennis, who will be pre-law at the University of Denver, was valedictorian of her Eaglecrest High School graduating class, matriculating with an honors diploma. It is the most distinguished award Eaglecrest offers and is given only to those who have amassed 60 hours of proficiency in a foreign language plus demonstrated community service and overall academic excellence.
In addition, she was named Outstanding Senior of the Year, a title earned for academic merit, outstanding leadership, school involvement and readiness for college.
Read more about these debutantes and fellow honorees Elizabeth Adair, Siera Bruce, Maya Burchette, Christine Chitechi, Deann Williams, Veronica Gilbert, Elise Goodgaine, Mayia Grimes, Kamaria Hakeem, Erin Hamad, Carissa Hampton, Alysha Harlan, Lyness Hill, Eboni Hobley, Taneyia Hoskins, Ramia Hunter, LaKeisha Jefferson, Brittni Johnson, Rebekah Johnson, Sierra Jones, Francine Kabongo, Cenea Kemp, Allena McDonald, Assiyah Muhammad-Simmons, Jordan Pettis, Kia Wright-Jackson, Jourdan Sherman, Sydney Odion-Smith, Victoria Turnipseed-Henderson and Leah Waruinge at /davidson.
