To a child, waking up on Christmas morning to discover that Santa has left a mind-boggling assortment of presents under the tree is a dream come true. For their parents, however, no toy or gadget or article of clothing is more wonderful than the gift of having a child that makes them proud and brings them joy.
Thirty-three sets of parents — along with another 600 or so family members and friends — were positively radiant on Sunday when their sons were presented at the Beautillion, a celebration of accomplishments and good decisions made by the metro area’s next generation of African-American leaders.
Hosted by Denver chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the Beautillion pays tribute to a carefully chosen group of male high school seniors who have excelled in academics, athletics and community service.
The Beautillion Class of 2009, said co-chair Toshia Foley, is “an energetic, enthusiastic and wonderful group of young men. It is my hope that they’ll stay strong in faith, focused and be all they can be.”
The honorees ranged from Lawson Williams, who has accompanied his parents to the event every year since he was 3, to Robby Turk, who several years ago broke a leg so severely that doctors told him to forget about every playing basketball or enrolling in his school’s International Baccalaureate program and concentrate on learning how to walk again. He proved everyone wrong, and in the spring will graduate from Smoky Hill High School’s IB program as both an honor student and captain of the hoops squad.
Turk’s medical condition had another plus: It inspired him to apply to medical school with the goal of becoming a surgeon.
Jarrod Ewing, senior class president at Montbello High School, said he was both honored and thrilled to have been selected. “I wish everyone could have an opportunity like this. The bond that we form — we were together every Sunday since August — is something to cherish.”
Ditto for Taran Crawford, student body vice president at Gateway High School. “The brotherhood, the networking, the ability to talk to others and expand my horizons … it was great because the people we met are the ones that will help us later in life.”
Each Beau is required to participate in the weekly activities that included workshops, a community service project and dance rehearsals.
Tonya Chaney and Jan Dunn also served as chairs for the 29th edition of this family-oriented event held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. Dunn’s son, Darien, a state champion in track (100-meters and the 4 x 100 relay) from Grandview High School also was among the Beaus.
The evening also included dinner and dancing to tunes spun by Eugene Johnson, better known as DJ EJ. Faye Wilson Tate is the president of Denver Jack and Jill; her daughter, Elleana, served as the honorary escort and helped Lawson Williams’ mother, Linda, the corporate and community chairperson, thank those who had contributed to the Beautillion’s financial success.
Masters of ceremony were former Denver Bronco Alfred Williams and Charles Johnson, the University of Colorado’s assistant athletic director. Williams and Johnson also are partners in @Light Speed, one of the nation’s largest corporate data centers.
The 2009 Beaus are:
Kendall DeWayne Brandon, Christopher Russell Carter, Taran Shea Crawford, Zavean Patrick Daniels, Cameron Michael Dews, Stephan Benjamin Dickens, Darien DuSean Dunn, Christopher Charles Ennis, Jarrod DeWayne Ewing, John Terrell Fruit, Marqui Alexander Gill, Diamond Earl Gillis, D’Moye Lonnel Gordon, Miles David Harper, Julian Alphonso Hawkins, Philip David Hill Jr., and Kammwrin Rusha Johnson.
Also, JevonTe Kimball Naulls Knight, Avery Kyle Brendon Lowe, William Kibet Martin, Dante Alan Miles, Askia Cheikh N’diaye, JaCobe JaVonte Payne, Forrest Jefferson Simms, Robby Dexter Turk, Dexter Bartholomew Turner, Darius David West, Lawson Alexander Williams, Korey RaShad Williams, Charles Jerome Wilson Jr., William Jamal Wilson, Christopher Isaac Wynn and Brian Dominique Young.
Biographical notes about the Beaus and other details about the evening can be found by visiting my Seen First blog: .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com
RSVP | Catching up with the social scene
33 examples of outstanding achievement
The spirit of the season always seems to shine a bit brighter on the night when the Denver chapter of Jack and Jill of America stages its annual Beautillion. Joanne Davidson has more about the 33 African-American high school seniors who were presented at a dinner ceremony Sunday in her Inside Line column, above.
Fangs a lot!
Even vampires can help a worthy cause: Summit Entertainment’s “New Moon” proved to be quite a draw for Reel Hope: Take 14, the annual movie screening and awards ceremony benefiting Jewish Family Service of Colorado. Joanne Davidson has more about the event that grossed $370,000 in her Seen First blog: .
All heart
The Oak Ridge Boys took a break from their holiday concert tour to entertain at the 29th Heart of Hearts Gala, proceeds from which go to the cardiac care programs at Avista, Littleton, Parker and Porter hospitals. Joanne Davidson describes the Western-themed affair in her Seen First blog: .
