Orientation date set for Pearls and Ivy
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ORIENTATION HELD FOR “PEARLS & IVY”
Oldest sorority-led program for African American girls in CollinCounty culminates in annual Pink Ice Debutante Ball
PLANO, Texas – Pearls & Ivy, home of the oldest, most celebrated sorority-led Cotillion for African American girls in CollinCounty, will soon host an orientation and registration session for the 2008-2009 season.
The event is open to girls in grades 7-12, and will be held on Sept.13 from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 600 Jupiter, Richardson, Texas. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Ideal applicants possess high moral and ethical standards, are goal-oriented and maintain successful academic records while displaying a strong history of volunteerism. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 10.
Sponsored by the Chi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pearls & Ivy prepares African American girls for meaningful personal, social and academic growth through an authentic, credentialed curriculum.
The 2008-2009 Season begins in September and runs throughout the school year. Members participate in interactive workshops led by subject-matter experts, attend field trips, plan and participate in special events, prepare for successful college careers and provide service to the community. Focus areas include etiquette, personal protocol, leadership development, career planning, money management/financial planning, conflict resolution, personal responsibility, nutrition and philanthropy.
Highlights during the year include the annual Ball Gown Showcase, Holiday Cultural Excursion, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteer Weekend and the popular Mother& Daughter Spring Tea. The stunning Pink Ice Debutante Ball marks the end of a successful season.
This year is the seventh season for Pearls & Ivy. However, the roots of youth mentorship run deeper for the organization. Preparing girls for entry into finer woman is a longtime tradition for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which recently celebrated its 100th birthday.
“Finer womanhood is our mantra, so for decades, Alpha Kappa Alpha women have had the pleasure of transforming girls into poised, polished and successful young ladies,” said Felicia Layeni, chapter president. Whether through our trademarked Fashionettas or Cotillions, our goal is to have every debutante emerge as the epitome of womanly pulchritude. We are now recognized for providing the premier coming-of-age experience for girls. To that end, Pearls and Ivy plants the seed for some of life’s most essential qualities—high standards, strong character, humility and positive self-esteem.” Cotillion Chair Dewanna Jefferson says the Chi Zeta Omega Chapter is particularly excited about the upcoming program year. "It’s wonderful to know that we have become an established part of our community, especially as it relates to the development of young ladies. Parents, educators and counselors are now familiar with us in CollinCounty and commend us on the quality of our curriculum and the beauty of our annual ball. It took many years for us to build this trust, so in 2008, we are continuing to build upon that excellence to uphold the standard.” “This is an honorable experience our girls carry and cherish for a lifetime. I look forward to meeting the new members this year and watching them grow.”
For more information about the orientation and to apply for membership in Pearls & Ivy, contact Dewanna Jefferson at pearlsandivy@akaczo.org by Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is America’s first Greek-letter organization founded by African American college women at HowardUniversity in 1908. The sorority cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards; promotes unity and friendship among college women; alleviates problems concerning girls and women; maintains a progressive interest in college life and serves mankind through a nucleus of more than 170,000 women in the United States, Caribbean, Europe and Africa.
The Chi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was established in Plano, Texas in 2002 and currently has more than 70 members. Its signature event, The Pink Ice Debutante Ball, features the oldest and most celebrated Cotillion sponsored by a Pan-Hellenic organization in CollinCounty.
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