In 2010, Theta Zeta Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority affectionately described its debutante class as the Fab Five.
For this year’s Sigma Pearls Cotillion, held Sunday at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, members one-upped themselves by presenting the Sweet, Successful Six.
Wearing identical white gowns from Chiyo’s Bridal in Aurora, high-school seniors Reanne Chase, Brittnea Davis, Chanae Farmer, Raechalle Holley, Kizmaya Lovelace and Thailia Rodrigues curtsied at a dinner ceremony chaired by Kathy Callum and Kathy Jackson and narrated by Phyllis Chapman.
The cotillion was the culmination of a year of fundraising and community service activities. The event highlight came when Lovelace, a varsity cheerleader at Montbello High School who says she’s interesting in nursing and social work, was crowned queen.
Holley was the runner-up. She, too, is a senior at Montbello and, like her classmate, is planning to become a nurse. Holley will study at Metropolitan State College of Denver with an eye toward becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Chase, daughter of Paul Chase and Rhonda Gonzales, is a senior at Hinkley High School and plans to study fashion retail management at the Art Institute of Colorado.
Davis, daughter of Sebastian Davis and Adrienne Hurst, is a third-year varsity cheerleader at East High School and, come fall, plans to enroll in pre-pharmacy classes at St. Augustine’s College in North Carolina.
Farmer, daughter of Willie T. and Eureka Farmer, is a member of the National Honor Society at Hinkley High School, and plans to major in chemistry at Stevenson University in Maryland and then attend graduate school.
Rodrigues is the daughter of 1981 Sigma Gamma Rho debutante Angelique Searuggs and is captain of the debate team at Denver School of Science and Technology. She plans to spend her freshman year at the University of Northern Colorado and then transfer to Texas Christian University to pursue a degree in entreprenurial business and nonprofit management.
In their congratulatory messsages, cotillion co-chairs Callum and Jackson noted that the debutantes had challenged themselves “more than ever” as they volunteered on behalf of more than a dozen causes ranging from Coats 4 Colorado to the Volunteers of America.
“My hat is off to you,” Jackson said. “The aim of our chapter is to enhance the quality of your lives (and) you have demonstrated public service, leadership and educational development. (We hope) you treasure the valuable times you have spent working together on projects and creating positive friendships.”
Callum added: “It is my hope that you will reflect on this past year as one of growth. You are beautiful young ladies inside and out and I pray that God will bless you in all that you aspire to accomplish. Go forth and do good deeds daily.”
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and GetItWrite on Twitter
