Delta Sigma Theta debutantes focus on public service

 

story and photos by Linda Kaufenberg
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The Fort Smith Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority saw more than 200 people attend its 10th Annual Debutante Cotillion, a tribute to nine young ladies in the community who have demonstrated their civic and educational aspirations, at the Holiday Inn City Center on Saturday (Nov. 20).

The event’s theme was "Impacting Our Community with Integrity & Grace.”

Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣΘ) is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community.

Twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on Jan. 13, 1913. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913.

Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930. Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is the largest African-American Greek-lettered sorority in the world. Membership in Delta Sigma Theta is open to any woman who meets the membership requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or religion. Women may join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university, or after acquiring a college degree through a graduate chapter.

Debs are Northside and Southside High School students. Funds raised will be used to award scholarships, which will help to defray some costs as the young ladies continue to pursue a higher education. Rhonda Gray, president of the Fort Smith chapter, explained that the girls turned in applications in May and started meeting monthly in May. The debutantes are required to complete public service work projects and attend certain functions in their honor.

“Many of our girls go above and beyond completing more community service projects than required,” said Gray. “We award two scholarships every year among the debutantes. The one who sells the most ads in the souvenir edition magazine handed out at the event is named Miss Debutante. All our girls have high GPAs.”

Courtney Nicole Holmes was named Miss Debutante 2010. She is a junior at Northside High School and is the daughter of Irene and Freddie Allen Holmes Jr. Her aspirations are to be a radiologist.