The energy was electric as 21 young ladies jubilantly twirled in circles, nervously practiced their curtseys and carefully walked to ensure no missteps would be taken before they made their official debut at the biennial debutante ball hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter. Each debutante’s brains, beauty, and benevolence were celebrated as “Royal Roses of Excellence” before a wall-to-wall crowd of onlookers and well wishers.

Group vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs for H-E-B Winell Herron and the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and the M.D. Anderson Professor in Hispanic Studies at the University of Houston Dr. Antonio D. Tillis introduced each debutante during the evening of grandeur. Willie Mae Evans served as general chairman with Dorothy Jean Booker and Pamela Michelle Evans as co-chairmen of the elegant affair. Cherise Story serves at the chapter president.

This is the 16th deb ball that is held every two years. Alpha Kappa Omega has fined tuned young ladies to prepare them for adulthood during the transformational debutante season where a young girl flourishes into a confident woman. Over several months high school seniors and college freshmen and sophomores have been immersed in workshops to cultivate their character, develop their social skills, polish their outward appearance and nurture their servant’s heart. This debutante season has been especially rigorous with fashion and image workshop at Tootsies presented by Style On Demand’s Andrea Bonner; worship service at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, where Rev. Dr. Marcus D. Cosby is pastor; and a plethora of teas, affairs and highly sought events to add the finishing touch to the already enchanting debutante class. Of course, with every gathering presented by the AKAs an element of philanthropy must be had. These debs were deeply moved by the service they were able to render at the Houston Food Bank to ensure that their fellow citizens had food to eat.

Indeed the highlight of the season was the opulent debutante ball complete with tall ornate candle arbors cascading with pink flowers of different hues, textured linens with golden chargers, and lots of candlelight. Wearing pristine white ball gowns of the finest fabrics the class of 2019 debutantes looked angelic as they beamed with pride walking on the arm of their fathers. Mothers of the debs were presented with a single rose to show their daughters' appreciation for her. Following the official presentation, the debutantes glided across the floor performing a series of dances in unison with their dapper escorts, doting fathers, and one with the mothers. It was magical.

The 2019 debutantes were Mikayla Adeeko, Mya Billingsley, Monet Calhoun, Mycah Clay, Gabrielle Cochran, Taylor Crawford, Kendall Dutton, MacKenzie Everette, Kennedy Gamble, Cydne Harrell-Malveaux, Courtland James, Kennedy Johnson, Whitney Johnson, Alexandra Lee, Shyla Lofton, Kalyn Prothro, Reylon Robinson, Laurryn Sells, Dawnyale Smith, Jaleah Walker, and Regan Williams.

Williams, Prothro, and Crawford won first, second and third place, respectively, as top ad sellers and all received a scholarship. Debutantes also participated in a video essay contest where they had to answer this prompt: If you had an opportunity to start a movement to positively change our world what movement would start? Focusing on how she would affect the homeless population by teaching and reaching them and working with the Covenant House and the Pink Giraffe House, Harrell-Malveaux was awarded first place. Adeeko came in second place. A three-way tie for Miss Congeniality was had between Williams, Crawford, Harrell-Malveaux.

Each one has a promising future that we can’t wait to see.