Les Belles Perles Debutante Cotillion
Cotillion Awards
The Les Belles Perles Debutante Cotillion is a scholarship award affair. Debutantes
who meet the minimum financial and public service requirements as outlined by the
chapter are eligible for award consideration. There are five categories of awards for
which several recipients may be considered.
Pamela Leah Larkins Award
Fortitude Award
This award is named in honor of Pamela Leah Larkins, who was a 1986 debutante. Pamela was a graduate of Firestone High School and a past teen president of the Akron Chapter of Jack & Jill, Inc., an active member of Mount Olive Baptist Church, and a pre-medicine student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Pamela, who had a thirst for knowledge, was a role model and inspiration to many people. She was a Merit Roll student, a member of the National Honor Society, listed in Who’s Who Among American High School Students, and was on the Dean’s list for
several years. After a courageous battle with Hodgkin’s disease, Pamela died in Akron, Ohio April 10, 1991, at the age of 23. This award was established in 1993 by the Akron Alumnae Chapter, and the recipient is selected by the current class of debutantes.
Named in honor of the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Fortitude Award is awarded based on the industriousness and tenacity of a debutante in selling advertisements. Multiple debutantes may be the recipient of the award. The Fortitude statue may be found on the campus of Howard University in Washington,
D.C., where the Sorority was founded.
Miss DST Award
Commendation Award
This award is presented to a debutante who exhibits qualities and characteristics consistent with the values of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Members of the Cotillion Leadership Team observe and select the recipient of the award. Qualifications, qualities, and characteristics for the award are not disclosed to the debutantes to add suspense on the evening of the presentation.
Commendations are smaller awards given at the discretion of the Chapter. From time to time, the Chapter may grant a small monetary gift commendation to a debutante as a way to acknowledge participation in the Cotillion.