Fourteen African American Aspiring High School Senior Girls
were presented to society at the
55th annual Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club Debutante Cotillion
held at the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida
On Sunday, April 28, 2024, the Frances J. Bright Woman’s Club presented fourteen beautiful African American aspiring high school senior girls at the 55th annual Debutante Cotillion held at the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida. The evening was magical elegance. For the event's raffle, Macy's donated limited-edition Clinique+Kate Spade cosmetic bags filled with beauty products.
The historic African American Frances J. Bright Woman's Club (FJBWC) was established in Delray Beach, Florida in 1959 and its debutante program was started in 1969. The FJBWC is named in honor of Frances J. Bright, an African American educator who came to Delray Beach, Florida in year 1895 to teach at 'colored' school #4 located on historic 5th Avenue in Delray Beach which was part of the Dade County School System at that time because Palm Beach County was not incorporated as a separate county until year 1909. The leaders of this prestigious organization of the FJBWC are esteemed African American educators, professionals, and business owners. The mission of FJBWC debutante program is to provide mentorship and help provide etiquette training and cultural experiences for African American high school girls who are invited into the program based on their academics and good character status. The debutante program also raises educational scholarship monies for the young ladies to pursue career goals.
2024 Debutantes are:
Aaliya Allen
Miana Bellony
Destinee Britt
Mercienka Camilus
Jayden Harris
Alaina Hay
A’yani Jones
Angelina Marcelus
Slanda Philistin
Beshkar Seme
Abigail Surtain
Layla Thomas
Raniya Tyson
Renisha Ylysse
For
one of the other activities for the debutantes, Lori J. Durante also
volunteered this year with organizing and leading a cultural enrichment program
for the debutantes for Women’s History Month by hosting the debutantes on the
non-profit Taste History Art & Culture Study Tour to West
Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach.