Ebony Suburbanites Mark 40 Years of Academic Achievement, Community Involvement

Over $50,000 in scholarships are expected to be rewarded to sixteen young women who are participating in our 40th Annual Ebony Suburbanites “Silhouettes of Loveliness” Debutante Cotillion on June 2, 2013.

This annual affair will take place at the Bridgewater Marriot and is a culmination of three months of strong commitment from the young ladies, as well as their escorts, to attend etiquette classes, community service events, fundraising activities and rehearsals for the special day.  

The Ebony Suburbanites organization, based in the New Brunswick/Somerset area, is a non-profit group that has served the central New Jersey community for more than 40 years.  It has continued to be committed to providing opportunities to young women to develop character, leadership, responsibility and a sense of community. What has set the Ebony Suburbanites apart from similar organizations is the group’s focus on developing the “whole” person as well as the amount of scholarships provided each year.

The selection process for the cotillion is fairly rigorous, and includes several letters of recommendation from school guidance counselors, religious and community leaders, and an academic requirement.  The 2013 “Silhouettes of Loveliness” cotillion consists of the following debutantes and their escorts (names in parenthesis):  

• Nicole Cooper (Edward Goba)

• Brianna Holcomb (Douglas McCormick, Jr.)

• Ciara Jones (Kevin Ademu-John)

• Shawnelle La Grande (Sean La Grande)

• Danah Lassiter (Kevin Lassiter, Jr.)

• Victoria Monteiro (Justin McGriff)

• Shawnea Paschall (Nathaniel Spry)

• Brandi Pinnix (Charles Jones)

• Monique Robinson (Michael Gayle)

• Breanna Ross (Taron Marner)

• Armani Scott (Jason Arrington, Jr.)

• Tyasia Thomas (Kendall Gilbert)

• Raven Thompson (Joshua McGriff)

• Diane Willis (Brandon Bennett)

• Jashea Willis (Langston Jordan)

• Tiara Wilson (Jackie Williams)

In honor of 40 years of community service of the Ebony Suburbanites, we are particularly excited to recognize the following Ebony Suburbanite club members who have exuded high levels of commitment for at least 25 years of service:

Evelyn Blount                    Margaret Rumph                                               
Nannette Geeston                Carolyn Jones
T. Ann Brown                    Martha Voorhees
Phyllis Hailes                    Laura Ford
Elvira Harris                    Glenda Simmons
Barbara Jordan

-Ebony Suburbanites