High Country Cotillion concludes 2008-09 season

“Dressed to the nines,” High Country Cotillion students dined, danced and listened to guests of honor ASU Chancellor Ken Peacock and Billy Riddle Jr. at the High Country Cotillion Spring Ball on April 25.

Concluding High Country Cotillion’s 2008-2009 weekend session, the traditional dinner dance for older students was held at ASU’s Broyhill Inn.

Ken O’Keefe escorts his daughter Megan at the event.

Terry Cole waltzes with his niece, Ashley Jarrett.

Patrick and Morgan O’Neal share a dance.

Early in the evening, Peacock applauded students for their participation in the cotillion program. He encouraged students to continue practicing the social skills they learned at cotillion, saying, “These are the skills that will take you through life.”

Commenting on the High Country Cotillion “Chancellor Handshake,” which is named after him, Peacock reminded students that they have one chance to make a good impression. “Great eye contact tells the other person they are important to you,” he said. “And a firm handshake expresses you are glad to be there.”

Introducing ASU alumni Traci Royster and Vonteena Knotts to the students, Peacock said that the two young women have what is most important in today’s business environment. “Today, and in the future, drive, initiative, cultural sensitivity, a desire to make a difference and being able to see the big picture and to think globally will be more important than the type of degree you have or the school you attended,” he said.

At the beginning of the evening, students learned corsage and boutonniere etiquette, and presented their first dance partners with corsages and boutonnieres provided by Charlotte’s Greenhouse. Each of the dinner’s three courses prepared by the Broyhill’s chef Bill Morris was preceded by dining etiquette instruction led by cotillion leaders Laura Parnelle, Thomas Griffin, Mary Grace Loftin and Carmela White.

Following dinner, ASU senior and founder of the nonprofit organization “Why the Woods,” Riddle spoke to the students on “Setting High Goals and Standards for Life After High School.”

Riddle, who played on two of ASU’s championship football teams, formed his organization after visiting Sudan for two months in the summer of 2007 “to meet the needs of others.”

He encouraged students to contemplate what kind of person they want to be before they head to college. “Set high values for yourself and pursue them passionately” he said. “You will face challenges to your character and beliefs. Be devoted to being the kind of leader and friend you want to be remembered as being.”

“Surround yourself with good people to help you be the best you can be,” Riddle said. “Hanging with the wrong crowd will lead you astray. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”

After dessert and a celebratory toast, students enjoyed dancing their repertoire of dances. When parents and friends 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 or friends with boutonnieres, pinned them and enjoyed a father-daughter dance.

Parents and friends observed students dancing, then everyone was invited to participate in several dances to close the evening.

The High Country Cotillion Ball was the eighth and final themed party of the High Country Cotillion 2008-2009 weekend session. During the session, three classes of 5th-6th grade, 7th-8th grade and 9th-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 cotillion organizer Sharon Carlton.

“Our ASU and WHS students teach the social graces that are helping them succeed as college (and high school) 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,” she said.

The weekend session themes ranged from a “Mountain Masquerade” in October when students dressed the way they think they will be in 15 years, to November’s “Harvest Hoedown” introduction to contra dancing, to the “Super Bowl Blast” in January.

Formal events included “The Jingle Bell Blast,” the “Snowflake Fling,” and the “High Country Cotillion Spring Ball.”

“Each cotillion event provides a different, fun experience aimed toward 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,” Carlton said.

“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. In covering age-appropriate topics for each class, we coach students in classic and current etiquette: introduction skills, making conversation, using common courtesies, technology (telephone, cell phone and Internet) etiquette, teamwork, thank you notes, RSVPs, dining etiquette, making a good impression in an interview situation, and more,” she said.

“We will announce our 2009-2010 weekend session itinerary and Thursday afternoon classes in the near future,” Carlton said. “Due to popular request, we plan to continue 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. Our guest DJs play great tunes for dancing and lead the group in nonstop activities and dancing.”

For more information about High Country Cotillion, visit www.highcountrycotillion.com or call Carlton at (828) 297-3133.