The Jefferson City Graduate Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is hosting the Miss Fashionetta Cotillion on Saturday.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. at Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 W. McCarty St.
The chapter has hosted the event every other year since 1978. During that time, more than 100 debutantes have participated; more than $100,000 in scholarships have been awarded to the students.
The program begins in the spring, and the debutantes and their escorts attend workshops on college preparedness, etiquette and public speaking. Other activities include a cultural outing, an essay contest and social events.
The 2018 debutantes
• Yessnia Dominique Austin, the daughter of Jarad Austin and Mecca Dixon-Austin, of Jefferson City, is a senior at Jefferson City High School. She is a member of concert choir, step team, show choir and dance team. She is a founding member of the Royal Tigerettes Dance Team. She and her mother founded the dance team to offer youth of Jefferson City an opportunity to perform lyrical, praise, hip hop and majorette dance. She attends One in Christ Baptist Church and is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta G.E.M.S. program.
After high school, she would like to pursue a career in performing arts and teach young performers how to master the art of dance.
• Zoë Janelle Beavers, the daughter of Marlow and Carol Beavers, is a senior at Jefferson City High School where she participates in numerous clubs. She is a member of the Student Council, serving as senior class president and assemblies chair and varsity dance team. She is a member of the medical club and helps to host numerous blood drives. Her community activities include NAACP Youth member and charter member of Interact Rotary Club. She is a member of Second Baptist Church and participates in the Youth Mission and Youth Choir. She is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta G.E.M.S. program.
After high school, she plans to attend Hampton University where she will study communication and sociology with an emphasis in public relations. She wants to pursue a career in conflict and crisis resolution. She would like to travel abroad for graduate school.
• Ashuntiera Dezhane Brown, the daughter of Wilson and Tanisha Coleman, formally of Chicago, is a junior at Jefferson City High School and a member of the varsity track team, step team and A+ program. She is a member of the community Royal Tigerettes Dance Team and participates in the Delta Sigma Theta G.E.M.S. program. She attended the National American Miss (NAM) Pageant, making it to the finals and taking home several trophies.
After high school, she plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University, where she will major in nursing to become a registered nurse. She would like to attend a performing arts school to further her love of dance.
• Joya Gabrielle Wheatfall-Melvin, the daughter of Matthew L. Melvin Jr. and Joy Wheatfall-Melvin, is a junior at Jefferson City High School. She is a member of the Lady Jays golf team, student council, Rotary Club, Young Democrats Club and co-founder of the diversity council. She attends Solid Rock Family Church and is a Capital Region Medical Center volunteer and a member of the job shadowing committee and the Cole County Youth Day planning committee.
After high school, she plans to attend one of her top three colleges: Hampton University, Spelman College or Virginia Commonwealth University and major in biochemistry with a minor in Spanish. She would also like to earn a real estate license and invest in black businesses.
• Mariya Chanyla Wilson, the daughter of the late Fred Wilson and Corretta Coleman-Wilson of Jefferson City, is a senior at Jefferson City High School and a member of the medical club, student council and step team. She previously was a member of the marching band and performed with the color guard squad. She attends Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Holts Summit. Her community activities include co-captain of the Royal Tigerettes Dance Team and the Delta Sigma Theta G.E.M.S. program. She is also a model for Amy Knollmeyer Mod Squad.
After high school, she plans to attend Tennessee State University and major in biology with hopes of becoming a plastic surgeon.
The 2018 escorts
• Albert Samuel Essel Jr., the son of Albert Sr. and Regina Essel, of Jefferson City, is a senior at Jefferson City High School, where he is a member of the varsity boys basketball team, varsity track and field team and the DECA program. He attends Solid Rock Church and is an alumnus of the American Legion Missouri Boys State, where he served as the presiding county commissioner.
After high school, he plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University, where he will major in economics with a minor in business administration.
• Khalil Elan Gardner, the son of Christine Gardner and Claude Hyler, is a junior at Jefferson City High School and a third-year member of the marching band and the symphonic band. He competed against students from 10 other schools and was selected for one of the five seats in the district band. He has competed in a national basketball tournament in Overland Park, Kansas, and has been certified as a lifeguard with CPR training. He attends Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church and is a member of the usher board and armor bearer.
After high school, he plans to attend college to earn a degree in psychology to become a psychiatrist.
• Marquis Earl Martin Jr., the son of Marquis Earl Martin Sr. and Diedre Evita Essex, is a freshman at Lincoln University and is majoring in culinary arts. Marquis works at Villa Marie Nursing Home, where he was recognized as May 2018 Employee of the Month.
After graduation, he wants to open a restaurant with his family.
• Lloyd Da’Juan Randles, the son of Cassandra Leavell, is a senior at Jefferson City High School and is a member of the Jays football team and co-founder of the diversity council.
He attends Solid Rock Family Church, plays basketball with the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation and volunteers at the Jefferson City Public Library. He also works at Smoothie King.
After high school, he plans to attend one of his four top schools: Howard University, Xavier College, University of Missouri or University of North Carolina. He wants to major in molecular biology with a minor in criminal justice.
• Fred Lee Wilson Jr., the son of the late Fred Wilson and Coretta Coleman-Wilson, of Jefferson City, is a sophomore at Jefferson City High School. He is a member of the junior varsity/varsity football team, varsity wrestling team, marching band, concert band trumpeter and Future Business Leaders of America Club. He is also a member of the Kids Wrestling Club in Jefferson City and qualified for state in his weight class in 2017. He attends Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church in Holts Summit and is active on the usher board, hospitality committee, church maintenance and upkeep, and an armor bearer.
After high school, he plans to attend Colorado State University or a Historically Black College or University where he anticipates a scholarship in wrestling.
The 2018 attendant
Elijah Price Jenkins is the son of Chris and Alicia Jenkins. He is an eighth-grader at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and is a member of the wrestling team. He is a student of Taekwondo and competes in martial arts tournaments. He plans to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology to study coding and robotics when he graduates from high school. He is a volunteer at the Salvation Army by serving lunch to the community.