Home The News Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Clarissa Hall Debutante Ball

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Clarissa Hall Debutante Ball

Tuesday, 09 December 2008

By Michael Bouvier The Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority honored Clarissa Hall with its 2008 Debutante Ball. The theme was “Elegant Choices for Change.” Melbourne Hilton Rialto was the venue for the formal event. Debutantes were escorted into the ballroom by their fathers. Escorts awaited them for the walk to the stage. Clearly a well-orchestrated presentation, a videographer recorded the event. Formal portraits were taken by a photographer. Spotlights swept over the debutantes on the stage. The Sorority honored Clarissa Hall, first president of the Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter, serving from 1989 to 1992 with a gift and a slide show. Event chairpersons were Gloria Gaines, current Chapter President and Cynthia Mathis. Westanna Bobbitt served as Public Relations Coordinator. A heart-touching part of the evening was reading of letters from the debutantes to their mothers. After the commentator, Teri Jones, read each deb's letter, the debutantes presented their mothers with a single rose. Miss Debutante 2007 Tyra Rushing took a farewell stroll before crowing the new Miss Debutante 2008. Miss Rushing currently attends Howard University where she is majoring in pharmacy studies. Miss Rushing crowned the Court and the new Miss Debutante 2008. Sheniece Ballard was selected as  Miss Debutante 2008. Miss Ballard, the daughter of Denise and Carlton Ballard, attends Melbourne High School and plans to study marine biology as her college career unfolds. She is a member of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church and the NAACP Youth Council. The first runner up was  Ashley Naomi Williams. She is the daughter of Rena and Gary Williams and is a senior at Melbourne High School. She is a member of Chief Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Palm Bay. Ashley is also a member of the Elizabeth Gibbs Youth Palace. Ms. Williams plans to attend Brevard Community College and then transfer to a four year university to major in law. The second runner up for 2008-2009 was Debutante Jimese Sharae Franklin. She is the daughter of Adrienne and Jimmie L. Franklin, Jr. She is a senior at Bayside High School in Palm Bay, where she plays basketball and softball. Jimese is a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Melbourne. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Delta Growing Empowering Myself Successfully (GEMS); the NAACP Youth Council; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; the Police Athletic League Youth Council and  a volunteer coach at the Grant Street Community Center. She plans to attend Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Fl. The Debutante Ball was far more than simply a  formal dance. In preparation, the fourteen debutantes received training ranging from etiquette to finance. Scholastic achievement was a given for consideration as a debutante, but candidates also showed a variety of extracurricular activities. Church activities and volunteer service were prominent in their biographies. Future career plans range from law to sports medicine to sociology.

 

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