Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

High Country Cotillion Celebrates 2007-2008 Season Finale

High Country Cotillion concluded the 2007-2008 cotillion season with the High Country Cotillion Ball on April 12 at the Broyhill Inn. Students attending the dinner dance began the evening with a presentation of corsages and boutonnières from Charlotte’s Greenhouse. They were instructed in dining etiquette as they enjoyed their three course dinners prepared by Broyhill Inn Chef Bill Morris’s team. Following Guest of Honor Forrest Gilliam’s presentation, students danced with their cotillion friends, and concluded the evening with Father-Daughter and Mother-Son Dances during the Parents’ Visit portion of the evening.

Gilliam, who served as ASU Student Government Association President for two years and was elected 2007 Homecoming King, shared his advice for “Setting High Goals and Standards For Life After High School.” Gilliam stressed the importance of listening. “Listen when you meet people. Remembering names, and the interests, and backgrounds of others is beneficial in making connections wherever you go,” he said. “Listen, also, to the wisdom of your elders.”

A graduating ASU political science major, Gilliam encouraged cotillion students with lessons he had learned.

“Work as hard as you can, harder than anyone else. Show up early, stay late, find out what you want to do, and do what you can wherever you are. People will remember that and they will be glad to help you when you need help or a job,” Gilliam said “Be courageous; take risks in all that you do. Step up and stand out. And, remember to be respectful, always use courtesy and say thank you.”

After dessert and a celebratory toast, students enjoyed dancing their repertoire of cotillion dances. When parents arrived for the last half hour of the evening, male students presented their mothers with corsages and led them in a Mother-Son Dance. Female students then presented their fathers with boutonnieres, pinned them and enjoyed a Father-Daughter Dance.

The High Country Cotillion Ball was the eighth and final themed party of the High Country Cotillion 2007-2008 weekend session. During the session, two classes of 7th and 8th grade and 9th through 12th grade students met one Saturday evening a month, where they learned classic and contemporary dances, and practiced interpersonal communication and social etiquette skills.

“Dance instruction was used as a tool to model young lady and gentleman conduct by our wonderful Cotillion Leaders,” said High Country Cotillion Organizer Sharon Carlton. “ASU students Laura Parnelle, Meg McGee, Thomas Griffin and Mary Grace Loftin teach the social graces that are helping them succeed as college students, young adults and employees. The inspiration that these terrific role models provide is invaluable. They make being a young lady and gentleman look easy, appealing, and fun.”

Dances and social skills are incorporated into each event’s themes. Guest speakers from ASU and the community assist in instructing and motivating students. Middle school students who will be attending high school next year attentively listened when Watauga High School’s record setting Eric Breitenstein told them what to expect in high school. ASU Student Government Vice President Will Windley talked to high school students about the differences the students could expect at the college level and the importance of dressing appropriately for the occasion, then conducted a tie tying tutorial. Terese Oliver of the Boone Chick-Fil-A talked to students about making a good impression in an interview situation and how to be a good employee.

Each HCC session includes a Community Awareness Project designed to recognize a local social service agency’s contributions to the community, and to present opportunities for involvement. During the weekend session, students donated personal care items and small entertainment gifts for Red Cross comfort kits. Receiving the collection, Red Cross Director of Health and Safety Services Lynn Norwood explained that the comfort kits will be distributed at local emergency shelters when people are displaced due to fires or natural disasters. Norwood informed the cotillion students of Red Cross services in Watauga County and invited students to join classes and on-going projects for their age groups.

The weekend session themes ranged from a “Mountain Masquerade” in October when student dressed the way they think they will be in 15 years, to the “Get A Clue!” event where students played a giant game of Clue, to a retro “That 70’s Night” and “Toga! Toga! Toga!” Formal events included “The Jingle Bell Blast,” the “Snowflake Fling” and the “High Country Cotillion Ball.”

Sharon Carlton explained, “Each cotillion event provides a different, fun experience aimed towards equipping students for life. We provide an entertaining setting for instruction and practice in social skills that will prepare youth to be confident, respectful young adults wherever they travel, whatever they do.”

“We are committed to teaching youth tools for building good relationships, equipping them with a good foundation of social skills that will prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow, and making their cotillion experience enjoyable and inspirational. We are expanding our Fall classes next year to provide both beginner level classes on Thursday afternoons, and advanced classes for our students to progress in their dancing steps and social skills one Saturday evening a month,” continued Carlton. “Due to popular request, we will also continue and expand our Club Cotillion events. On Saturday nights, after the high school classes, our Club Cotillion events offer an additional fun, safe environment to socialize and dance with friends. Rather than a class atmosphere, Club Cotillion is a dance. Any current or previous High Country Cotillion student may attend and bring a friend. DJ Jerry Parker plays great tunes for dancing and leads the group in non-stop activities and dancing.”

Registration for both beginner and advanced classes for 5th and 6th grades, 7th and 8th grades and 9th through 12th grades begins May 20.
For more information, call Sharon Carlton at 828-297-3133 or click to www.highcountrycotillion.com.