- WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT DEBUTANTES AND THE OWL CLUB IN GENERAL, I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT STILL EXISTED.

- THIS EVENT IS VERY SPECIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY.

- THE OWL CLUB'S COTILLION IS THE OLDEST BLACK COTILLION IN COLORADO.

-YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE AN OWL'S DEB.

IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

- IT'S EXCITING TO SURROUND YOURSELF BY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP YOU GROW AND ALSO TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

- THAT WAS SOMETHING I THINK THE OWL CLUB REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE WAS THAT YOU COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE AND YOU COULD DO GREAT THINGS.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) -SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN A CLUB THAT CELEBRATES BLACK EXCELLENCE AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S KIND OF TWO STRIKES YOU ALREADY HAVE AGAINST YOU, LIKE BEING A WOMAN AND ALSO JUST BEING A MINORITY.

- SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY STILL COME AND SHOW LIKE WHAT IT IS TO BE BLACK BECAUSE LIKE BEING BLACK ISN'T JUST LIKE PIGMENTATION IN YOUR SKIN.

IT'S BEING A PART OF A LIFESTYLE, A GENERATION, A HISTORY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUGHT TO BE HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPRESENT THAT.

- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE OWL CLUB OF DENVER'S DEBUTANTES.

(APPLAUSE) ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME ABOUT BEING A DEBUTANTE IS FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY AND FINDING YOUR TRIBE.

- YES GIRL, DON'T EVEN WORRY.

- I THINK BEING A DEBUTANTE IS EMPOWERING.

SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOALS FOR THEMSELVES AND HAVE A FUTURE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TOWARDS.

OH SHE GOT A PRINCESS DRESS.

OH IT'S SO PRETTY.

JALIYAH YOUR BUN TURNED OUT SO CUTE.

THANK YOU.

THE OTHER WAY!

- LIVING IN DENVER, IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, ESPECIALLY THIS IS LIKE REALLY IMPORTANT TO HONOR BLACK EXCELLENCE AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE A PART OF.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - AND I THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT KEEPING TRADITION AS WELL BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE DEBUTANTE STUFF IS A TRADITION AND SO I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG IS LIKE SUPER IMPORTANT AS WELL.

I WAS SUPER EXCITED TO JUST LIKE HEAR ABOUT THE CLUB AND LIKE BE A PART OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S 2026 AND WE'RE ALL LIKE HERE TOGETHER.

WE'RE DOING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY.

LIKE, I'M SO EXCITED FOR IT.

- WE BEGAN THE DEBUTANTE COTILLION IN 1951.

IT HAS MEANT SO MUCH TO THE YOUNG LADIES, TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT HAS BEEN HOSTED BY THE OWL CLUB OF DENVER FOR 75 YEARS.

- THE OWLS CLUB WAS A CLUB THAT WAS STARTED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN TO FELLOWSHIP.

AND GET TOGETHER AND JUST ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE OF EACH OTHER.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTED BACK IN 1941.

- I GUESS DURING THAT TIME THERE WASN'T MANY OPPORTUNITIES OR ASSOCIATIONS OR ANYTHING THAT REALLY WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MINORITY FOLKS AT THAT TIME.

SO MORE OR LESS THEY HAD TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY OR AS THEY SAY SOMETIMES MAKE THEIR OWN PARTY HAPPEN.

[LAUGHTER] - IN THE 1940S IN DENVER, YOU DO SEE AN INFLUX OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS COMING TO COLORADO.

THIS WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT MIGRATION, AND THE RAILROAD WAS A HUGE REASON WHY.

THEY EMPLOYED A LOT OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LABORERS.

[TRAIN WHISTLE] HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOCIAL DISCRIMINATION HERE EMBEDDED IN DAILY LIFE IN COLORADO.

SO AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE RESTRICTED INTO AREAS THEY COULD GO INTO, PLACES THEY COULD LIVE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE WERE EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AS WELL.

SO THERE WAS A NEED TO FORM STRONG, INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY CLUBS, SOCIAL CLUBS.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) AND THAT'S WHY THE OWL CLUB FORMED IN 1941.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - THE CLUB IN ITSELF WAS FOUNDED SO THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN COULD FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER.

AND THEY WOULD PLAY CARDS HALF THE NIGHT.

AND SO THEIR WIVES GAVE THEM A NICKNAME AND THEY SAID THEY WERE LIKE HOOT OWLS.

AND THAT NAME STUCK AND IT BECAME THE OWLS CLUB.

THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.

AND IT EVENTUALLY MORPHED INTO THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING MORE SO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

-THIS IS A PHOTO OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS WHEN THEY GOT THEIR 5013C STATUS.

OF COURSE, ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WAS MAKING SURE THAT THEY INVESTED IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY WERE MAKING SURE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD REALLY BUILD UP THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO RECREATE A NEW GENERATION FOR THE FUTURE.

- THERE WAS A POINT IN TIME WHEN FAR TOO OFTEN THEY WOULD RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG MEN IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

THE YOUNG LADIES WERE LEFT OUT.

AND THEY JUST THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE YOUNG LADIES FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND ASK THEM ABOUT SOME OF THEIR GOALS.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO.

- SO THEY DECIDED TO START A COTILLION TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF YOUNG BLACK WOMEN WITHIN DENVER'S BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND THEN I LIKE TO SHOW FOLKS PHOTOS OF THE OWLETTES.

THEY WERE THE ONES REALLY ORCHESTRATING A LOT OF THE SOCIAL EVENTS, EVEN THE BALLS.

THEY WERE JUST REALLY AT THE HEART OF THE SOCIAL LIFE FOR THE CLUB.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) THE FIRST TIME I HEARD ABOUT THE OWL CLUB, SPECIFICALLY AND ITS COTILLION, WAS MY COUNSELOR, MS.

MARONEY.

SHE PULLED ME OUTSIDE OUTSIDE OF CLASS, AND SHE WAS LIKE, THERE'S THIS HISTORICALLY BLACK DEBUTANTE BALL THAT'S COMING UP SOON, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR GIRLS, AND I THINK YOU FIT THE PROFILE PERFECTLY.

WHICH, THAT REALLY EXCITED ME BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WOW, I GET TO MEET GIRLS WHO ARE BLACK, WHO ARE SMART, WHO ARE EDUCATED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE ME, TALK LIKE ME, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE IN COMMON WITH.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) MY NAME IS JASMINE YOL.

I'M 18 YEARS OLD, AND I AM A PART OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OWL CLUB DEBUTANTES.

I LOVE DOING MY MAKEUP.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE MY CRAFT.

IT'S ALWAYS REALLY FUN SEEING HOW IT'S DIFFERENT, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT FOR ME EVERY SINGLE DAY.

HOPEFULLY TODAY WILL BE A GOOD MAKEUP DAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALREADY IS GOING TO BE, SO.

IN MY FREE TIME, I DO LOVE LIKE FASHION, LIKE POP CULTURE, LIKE BEAUTY GURUS.

I ALSO LOVE WATCHING LIKE MOVIES AND TV AND I'M VERY ACADEMICALLY DRIVEN.

I'M NUMBER SEVEN IN MY CLASS, SO I'M GRADUATING IN MY SCHOOL'S TOP 15 OF STUDENTS.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT LIKE DEBUTANTES AND LIKE THE OWL CLUB IN GENERAL, I WAS PRETTY SHOCKED THAT IT STILL EXISTED SOLELY BECAUSE I HAVE HONESTLY ONLY SEEN IT IN OLDER MOVIES OR DEPICTIONS OF OLDER MOVIES.

BUT I DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WERE STILL ACTUALLY HAVING DEBUTANTES IN REAL LIFE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AGE BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS SUCH LIKE A DATED OR LIKE YOU HAD TO JOIN A COUNTRY CLUB TO BE A PART OF THAT KIND OF VIBE.

- COTILLIONS IN THE UNITED STATES GOT THEIR START ACTUALLY FROM EUROPEAN PRACTICES AND THEY WERE A WAY FOR HIGH STATUS WHITE FAMILIES TO SHOW OFF THEIR DAUGHTERS AND FOR YOUNG WHITE WOMEN TO SHOW OFF THEIR DOMESTIC ABILITIES AND YOU KNOW, MARRIAGE POTENTIAL.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) WHAT'S DIFFERENT WITHIN AFRICAN- AMERICAN COTILLIONS IS THAT THEY WERE TO ELEVATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG GIRLS, BUT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THEIR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, THEIR CIVIC ACTIVITIES, THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.

AND IT WASN'T REALLY FOR A MARRIAGE MARKET, BUT THIS GAVE THEM A CHANCE TO BUILD THAT CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE WORLD.

- USUALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A DEBUTANTE BALL OR A COTILLION, YOU THINK ABOUT HIGH SOCIETY.

BUT IN FACT, THESE GIRLS WERE CHOSEN FROM ALL OVER.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I THINK THE OWL CLUB REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE WAS THAT YOU COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE.

YOU COULD COME FROM HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES AND YOU COULD DO GREAT THINGS.

I'M CONDOLEEZZA RICE, AND I WAS AN OWL CLUB DEBUTANTE IN 1971, WHICH WAS THE YEAR BOTH OF MY GRADUATION FROM ST.

MARY'S ACADEMY AND MY FIRST YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER.

- GROWING UP, I KNEW ABOUT DEBUTANTE BALLS ON THE EAST COAST AND THE SOUTH, AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE REPRESENTED AND INCLUDED WITH THE OUTSTANDING LADIES OF DENVER, COLORADO.

I AM DR.

DAWN OWENS ROBINSON, BORN AND RAISED IN DENVER, COLORADO, ATTENDED DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AUGUST WILL MARK MY 26TH YEAR AS AN OB-GYN, AND I REPRESENTED GEORGE WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AS AN OWLS CLUB DEBUTANTE IN 1985.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - SO WE HAVE ALL OF THEIR CLASS PHOTOS FROM 1951 ALL THE WAY UP TO 2017.

AND ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT THESE PHOTOS IS YOU CAN SEE THE TRENDS OF BEAUTY THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR.

- BEING AN OWL CLUB DEBUTANTE WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

I MET A LOT OF YOUNG WOMEN WHO I WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE KNOWN BECAUSE ST.

MARY'S ACADEMY ONLY HAD THREE BLACK WOMEN IN MY GRADUATING CLASS.

AND SO IT WAS GREAT TO BE A PART OF THAT GREAT TRADITION HERE IN DENVER.

- IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW AS BLACK WOMEN IN COLORADO THAT WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND WE'RE REPRESENTING.

AND WHEN YOU READ THE BIOS OF THE WOMEN THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THIS PROGRAM, IT'S AMAZING.

AND THEN YOU SEE WHAT THE YOUNGER WOMEN ARE DOING.

I THINK IT'S EXCITING.

- THIS IS THE UPSTAIRS PHOTO GALLERY.

IT GOES WAY BACK, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GOOD TO COME AND SEE SOME OF THE DEBS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED.

IN THAT PROCESS, SOME WHO HAVE BECOME PROFESSORS, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, I'M GOING TO SAY CHIEFS TO COVER EVERYTHING.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) SO THERE IS SOME EXCITEMENT BEHIND BEING AN OWL CLUB DEBUTANTES.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) SO FUNNY THING, OVER THE SUMMER, I USED TO SEE LIKE AN INFLUX OF DEBUTANTES AND COTILLIONS ON MY TIKTOK.

[TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK.]

AND WHEN I WOULD SEE IT, I'D BE LIKE, OH, THIS IS SO PRETTY.

I ACTUALLY SEARCHED UP HOW TO BE A DEBUTANTE OVER THE SUMMER.

AND IT WAS LIKE, IT'S MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN STATES.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN AGE AND CERTAIN SOCIAL CLUBS TO GET IN.

SO I WAS LIKE, OH, I GUESS I'M NOT GOING TO EVER BE A DEBUTANTE.

SO WHEN MY COUNSELOR FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT IT, I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY DREAM.

SO YEAH.

- I RECENTLY DID THE BEAUTILLION I DID THAT LAST YEAR IN DECEMBER, BUT THIS IS MORE OF A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE IT'S MORE FOCUSED ON THE WOMAN AND UPLIFTING BLACK WOMEN, WHICH I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THE COTILLION TYPICALLY STARTS BY SENDING OUT INFORMATION TO COUNSELORS AT HIGH SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE DENVER, DENVER METRO AREA.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR GIRLS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED ACADEMICALLY.

GIRLS THAT HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

- SO I ACTUALLY HEARD ABOUT THE OWL CLUB FROM ONE OF OUR COUNSELORS AT SCHOOL AND SHE WAS KIND OF JUST EXPLAINING TO US HOW LIKE THEY WERE SELECTING STUDENTS FROM LIKE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHO KIND OF MET THEIR CRITERIA AND SO THE REQUIREMENTS WAS LIKE TO BE A SENIOR AND YOUR GPA I THINK IT HAD TO BE AT LEAST A THREE AND KIND OF JUST SOMEBODY THAT LIKE IS INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND JUST LIKE A MODEL KIND OF STUDENT BASICALLY.

- TALK ABOUT THAT MORE.

[LAUGHTER] I DID APPLY WITH MY BEST FRIEND JASMINE AND SO COMING INTO IT YEAH I FEEL LIKE I DID KIND OF HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHICH I THINK HELPED EASE LIKE THE PROCESS.

- FROM THERE IT EVOLVES INTO COLLECTING A LIST OF CANDIDATES, EVALUATING THOSE CANDIDATES.

AND THEN OFFERING CANDIDATES TO COME IN FOR INTERVIEWS.

- GREGORY ANDERSON.

- CAMIYAH JONES.

- NICE TO MEET YOU.

- NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

- SO TODAY WE'RE CONDUCTING THE DEBUTANTE INTERVIEWS.

WE AS OWL MEMBERS, WE REALLY ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO MEET THEM FIRSTHAND, FACE TO FACE.

-SO NOW THAT I DO KNOW ABOUT IT I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF.

- BEYOND THAT, WE JUST ENJOY, YOU KNOW, JUST LETTING THEM, YOU KNOW, GET A CHANCE TO MEET US AS WELL.

- SO TODAY I CAME HERE TO BE INTERVIEWED, TO BE PART OF THE OWL CLUB AS A DEBUTANTE.

AND THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WENT WELL.

IT WAS REALLY FUN.

EVERYONE'S SUPER SWEET AND WELCOMING.

AND WHEN I SAW DEBUTANTE, I WAS LIKE, OH, THAT'S SO COOL.

BECAUSE IN SHOWS LIKE ALL AMERICAN ON NETFLIX, ONE OF THE CHARACTERS, SHE'S A DEBUTANTE.

AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS SO COOL TO SEE ON TV.

SO I WAS LIKE, TO EXPERIENCE THAT IN REAL LIFE WOULD BE EVEN COOLER, YOU KNOW?

- FROM THERE, THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED IN ABOUT A WEEK OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE.

AND THEN, THE DEBUTANTES, AND THEIR PARENTS WILL BE INVITED TO AN ORIENTATION SESSION.

- WELL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED HERE.

MY NAME IS GREGORY ANDERSON.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEBUTANTE COMMITTEE FOR THE OWL CLUB OF DENVER, AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DEBUTANTE CANDIDATES.

(APPLAUSE) - FOR ORIENTATION DAY, I THINK I WENT INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE BLIND THAN I THOUGHT I DID.

SO WHEN I KIND OF WENT AND I WAS HEARING THE EXPECTATIONS, I WAS A LITTLE BIT STARSTRUCK A LITTLE BIT AND I WAS LIKE, HUH, OKAY.

-WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REHEARSALS AND ALSO THE SEMINARS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE ON THE CALENDAR IS MANDATORY.

-DURING ORIENTATION, IT WAS LIKE A LOT OF INFORMATION TO TAKE IN.

SO I WAS FEELING LIKE VERY STRESSED BECAUSE I ALREADY FEEL KIND OF STRESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

BUT I THINK IT WAS LIKE USEFUL INFORMATION KNOWING LIKE RIGHT OFF THE BAT KIND OF WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS WERE.

- I REMEMBER LIKE HEARING THE DIFFERENT LIKE EXPECTATIONS.

I THINK WHAT THREW ME OFF WAS THE DRESS REQUIREMENTS ESPECIALLY.

- NOW WE DO HAVE, WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY STRICTNESS IN TERMS OF THE DRESSES.

WE WANT THEM A CERTAIN WAY.

- I WAS REALLY HOPING FOR LIKE A STRAPLESS DRESS.

- WE WANT IT TO HAVE STRAPS.

WE'RE NOT INTO STRAPLESS.

- AND WITH LIKE MORE SEQUINS.

-WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF SEQUINS.

- AND LIKE SOMETHING LIKE LESS TULLE AND MORE LIKE SATIN.

- AND WE LIKE IT PUFFY.

HEARING THEIR EXPECTATIONS I WAS LIKE SO I'M NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANY OF THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE WAY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I THOUGHT SO THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME.

- OH MY GOSH, IT'S SO CUTE IN HERE.

- I KNOW IT'S SUPER CUTE.

I'M REALLY EXCITED.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES I WAS LOOKING AT BECAUSE IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

- THAT'S CUTE.

- I THINK FOR MY DRESS HUNT, THE FIRST TIME IS WHEN I WENT TO DAVID'S BRIDAL AND THEN I WAS LOOKING AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRESSES AND ALL THAT.

- THAT'S NOT THAT BAD.

-BUT TO ME, I HAD TO, LIKE, TAKE OFF MY OWN BRAIN AND, LIKE, PUT ON, LIKE, THE OWL CLUB DEBUTANTE BRAIN AND KIND OF SEE, LIKE, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN A DRESS.

I THINK THIS ONE WOULD BE REALLY PRETTY.

- I FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD SAY NO BECAUSE OF THE SPARKLES.

- I KNOW.

- WAIT, THE BEADING ON THIS IN THE BACK IS CUTE.

- OH, I LOVE THESE TYPES OF, LIKE, BACKS.

- WHEN WE WENT DRESS SHOPPING, WE WENT TO DAVID'S BRIDAL FIRST.

AND ACTUALLY, WE DID FIND, LIKE, A COUPLE OF CUTE DRESSES.

- I THINK THIS ONE, THIS ONE'S, LIKE, A MERMAID ONE, SO THAT WON'T WORK.

- IT'S JUST FINDING ONES THAT HAD, LIKE... ENOUGH POOF THAT WAS KIND OF HARD.

THAT ONE IS SO PRETTY!

I LOVE THAT ONE.

OH MY GOSH THE BEADING.

- I KNOW.

HOLD ON WHAT IS THE WALTZ?

YOU GO-- - GIRL YOU'RE DOING THE CHA CHA SLIDE.

OH THAT'S NOT IT, I THOUGHT YOU GO IN A SQUARE OK, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WALTZ THEN, GUYS.

-KIDS TODAY EVEN BACK WHEN I WAS A KID AS WELL THEY DON'T DO THE WALTZ YOU KNOW THAT WAS A WHOLE NEW DIFFERENT TYPE OF DANCE.

AND SO WE HAVE REHEARSALS ON MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS BETWEEN 7 AND 9.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY HAVE TO LEARN THE DANCE CALLED THE WALTZ OF THE BELLS.

- LET'S FORM A BIG CIRCLE, BIG CIRCLE.

ALL RIGHT, READY?

BEGIN.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

-THE DANCE CLASSES, SO IT'S BEEN LIKE DIFFICULT KIND OF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LIKE REMEMBER LIKE THE OPPOSITES OF EVERYTHING WHEN WE'RE TURNING AND STUFF.

BUT IT'S FUN AND IT'S FUN LIKE WATCHING PEOPLE KIND OF HAVE A HARD TIME TOO, SO.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) BUT IT'S LIKE REALLY FUNNY, LIKE WHEN WE'RE ALL DANCING AND LIKE SEEING THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, LIKE WATCHING EVERYONE FAIL TOGETHER IS KIND OF FUN BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE YOUR FAILURES AND ALSO TO CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES.

AND ALSO IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT FEELING BAD IF I'M DOING IT WRONG OR MAKING A MISTAKE.

SO KIND OF LIKE EXPERIENCING THAT HAS BEEN REALLY FUN FOR ME.

-YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING TO BE AN OWL'S DEB.

IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT ALL OF IT.

IS THAT YOU HAVE COMMUNITY.

- I THINK SO FAR MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHT OF BEING PART OF THE COTILLION IS GETTING TO MEET LIKE A TON OF DIFFERENT GIRLS AND PEOPLE JUST IN GENERAL.

I THINK IT'S FUN TO KIND OF LIKE FIND A SISTERHOOD.

BUT BESIDES LIKE GETTING TO WEAR A DRESS AND DANCE, I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE COOL TO LEARN ABOUT ETIQUETTE ACTUALLY BECAUSE I JUST THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE REALLY HEAR ABOUT.

YOU DON'T REALLY LEARN ABOUT IT.

AND SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO KIND OF LIKE GET THAT EXPERIENCE OF WHAT'S CONSIDERED PROPER, WHAT'S CONSIDERED IMPROPER.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA BE A FUN PIECE.

- SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND WELCOME EVERYBODY.

TODAY, I'M TEACHING EUROPEAN ETIQUETTE.

THIS IS GONNA GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE IN SPACES THAT YOU WANNA BE, OKAY?

- I'VE NEVER DONE AN EXPERIENCE WHERE I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE PROPER AND LEARNING ABOUT ETIQUETTE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GOOD LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

- SO YOU'RE GOING TO STAB, CUT, CUT, CUT.

GOT IT?

-WHEN WE WERE GETTING THE LESSON ON, LIKE, EUROPEAN ETIQUETTE, IT WAS HARD, ACTUALLY.

LIKE, IT WAS VERY AWKWARD, ESPECIALLY HOLDING THE WAY THAT YOU HAD TO HOLD THE FORK FELT VERY WEIRD.

- PUT IT IN YOUR LEFT HAND.

LEFT HAND.

- I'M NOT LEFT-HANDED, SO, LIKE, USING MY FORK LIKE THAT WAS ALSO A CHALLENGE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL.

- IF THE PERSON ACROSS FROM THE TABLE IS ASKING FOR THE SALAD DRESSING, YOU HAND ONE BY ONE.

YOU DON'T HAND IT ACROSS THE TABLE.

PASS THE SALT AND THE PEPPER TOGETHER.

OKAY?

WHEN YOU'RE EATING WITH BREAD, PINCH A PIECE OF THE BREAD OFF, AND YOU PUT THE BUTTER ON THAT PIECE OF BREAD.

THAT'S HOW YOU EAT IT.

-EVEN IF YOU'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS THAT NIGHT, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT YOU'RE READY.

AND IT ISN'T JUST SHOWING UP AND BEING BEAUTIFUL IN YOUR GORGEOUS GOWNS AND IT IS THAT OH YEAH BUT IT'S ALSO THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CARRY ON TO YOUR FAMILIES AND TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND TO OTHER PLACES OUTSIDE OF DENVER BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WE HAVE A BLACK COMMUNITY HERE SOME SOME OF THEM DON'T KNOW AND SO YOU GET TO BE THE EXTRAORDINARY AMBASSADORS.

- I THINK IT JUST HIGHLIGHTS, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SMALL IN COLORADO, WE'RE MIGHTY.

WE ONLY REPRESENT THREE TO FIVE PERCENT OF THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE STATE, BUT COLORADO IS MOVING AND SHAKING AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN GIRLS' LIVES.

- AND NOW YOU ARE OPENING DOORS, FRONT DOOR, BACK DOOR, SIDE DOORS, EVERY KIND OF DOOR.

YOU'RE BUILDING YOUR OWN SPACES.

THEN IT'S YOUR TIME.

SO GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG HAND BECAUSE YOU WERE CHOSEN.

SO I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, AND I THANK YOU.

- NIYAH NICOLE LEE WILLIAMS.

NIYAH IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN HER COMMUNITY.

- I THINK WHEN I'M GOING UP AND THEY'RE READING LIKE MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I THINK I'M GONNA HONESTLY TRY NOT TO CRY PROBABLY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I GET PRETTY EMOTIONAL ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE KIND OF LIKE TALKING ABOUT ME AND MY ACHIEVEMENTS.

- NIYAH HAS RECEIVED MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SUCH AS BEING ON THE PRINCIPAL'S HONOR ROLL AND RECEIVING OVER $130,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.

[APPLAUSE] - I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I FEEL THIS WAY TOO.

SOMETIMES IT FEELS EMBARRASSING TO LIKE SAY YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SAY THAT WHAT YOU DO, BUT LIKE BEING IN A ROOM WHERE THERE'S NO PRESSURE AND EVERYONE'S THERE TO TRULY CELEBRATE YOU AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SUCCEED IS SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME.

- JASMINE YOL.

[APPLAUSE] JASMINE WAS A DEDICATED AND ACCOMPLISHED STUDENT LEADER WHO MADE A LASTING IMPACT WITHIN HER SCHOOL AND DISTRICT.

- THE THING THAT THEY GET OUT OF BEING A DEBUTANTE MOSTLY IS THE RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND APPRECIATE THOSE.

AND THE EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACES, IF I WOULD SUM IT UP INTO ONE WORD, IT'S JOY.

THE FACT THAT I'M MOVING ON WITH MY LIFE AND JUST GETTING OLDER IS KIND OF SURREAL IN A WAY.

IT'S EXCITING, BUT ALSO KIND OF NERVE-WRACKING.

SO I THINK I'M GOING TO BE NERVOUS, BUT ALSO EXCITED.

- NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE 2026 OWL CLUB OF DENVER DEBUTANTES WILL PERFORM THE WALTZ OF THE BELLS.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) - SOMETHING LIKE THE OWL CLUB'S DEBUTANTES, IT SORT OF STAYS WITH YOU AS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE YOU MEET OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ALSO GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING WHEN YOU'RE GETTING READY TO LIVE ON YOUR OWN.

AND I KNOW IT'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING.

IT'S ALSO VERY EXCITING.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT BEING IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND BEING WITH PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, TALK LIKE YOU, AND HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS YOU, KIND OF CHANGES YOUR WHOLE WORLD VIEW AND YOUR PERSONALITY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SOME OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY STILL COME AND FIND THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SHOW WHAT IT IS TO BE BLACK.

BECAUSE BEING BLACK ISN'T JUST PIGMENTATION IN YOUR SKIN.

IT'S BEING A PART OF A LIFESTYLE, A GENERATION, A HISTORY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE FOUGHT TO BE HERE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REPRESENT THAT.

♪ (MUSIC PLAYING) (APPLAUSE) - I DEFINITELY THINK BLACK COTILLIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IN TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE WHEN WE SEE AN ATTACK ON BLACK HISTORY.

SO CONTINUING THIS PRACTICE AND PROVIDING ANOTHER AVENUE TO CELEBRATE BLACK LIFE, I THINK IS AMAZING.

WE'VE ALWAYS TAUGHT OUR KIDS BLACK HISTORY AND OUR ROOTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND THE HISTORY OF HOW WE CAME TO AMERICA.

AND I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE CRITICAL NOW BECAUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE LIVE IN.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SURROUND YOURSELF BY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHO ARE ABLE TO HELP YOU GROW AND ALSO TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

HAVING THAT YOUNG AND ALSO KIND OF BEING A GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE HOPEFULLY GO DOWN A GOOD PATH.

- WE SAY EVERY YEAR THAT THIS IS THE BEST CLASS.

THEY HAVE GONE ON TO DO SUCH SPECTACULAR THINGS, SUCH OUTSTANDING CAREERS, AND THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THAT BACK.

AND WE FEEL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE ON THE LEGACY OF OUR FOUNDERS.

-LEARNING HISTORIES LIKE THE OWL CLUB AND SOCIAL CLUBS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS BLACK JOY AND CELEBRATION AND ACHIEVEMENT.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE OWL CLUB THAT PRESERVE THAT HISTORY, IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO SIGNIFY THAT IT'S STILL ONGOING, THAT THEY'RE STILL HERE.

THESE INSTITUTIONS THAT WERE BUILT DECADES BEFORE ARE STILL DOING THE WORK.

AND I THINK WE NEED THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD.