Phoenix Chapter of The Links, Inc.

Beautiful2012 Cotillion

2

Congratulations On Your Journey in

Becoming Debutante’s

Ayanna & TaMara,

You are both so amazing and we enjoy watching the wonderful ladies you are becoming! We are so proud to be your parents.

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you do not see the whole staircase” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Love Mom & Dad

Always  remember  two  Nicholes  make  a  dime  And  you  are  both  PERFECT  10’s!  

3

www.facebook.com/mayorstanton www.twitter.com/mayorstanton greg.stanton@phoenix.gov www.phoenix.gov/mayor

April 2012

Greetings!

It is my pleasure and privilege to congratulate the ladies of the Phoenix Chapter of Links, Inc.

on its 31st Biennial Cotillion. As the new Mayor of Phoenix, I am thrilled that you have chosen

the downtown Phoenix Sheraton Hotel as the site of your 2012 event.

To the fifteen junior and senior debutantes, and your proud family and friends, I wish you all the

best on a night that you will surely remember for a lifetime. Education is one of the pillars of my

administration, and it is a key goal of mine to recognize and encourage young women like

yourselves who have clearly demonstrated high academic achievement and leadership skills.

The future of our valley and state is in good hands thanks to young women like you.

I commend the Links for your long history of community service and commitment to our

youth. You are pillars of our community, and I’m proud to be associated with your activities.

Thank you for presenting to us these remarkable young ladies.

Sincerely,

Greg Stanton

Mayor

4

On behalf of the Phoenix Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, words cannot express how delighted our membership is to have this wonderful opportunity to be involved with each of the Debutantes over the last eight months. Under the direction of the Cotillion Chairperson, Dr. Michele Halyard-Robinson, members of the Phoenix Chapter of Links have worked diligently to involve the girls in a variety of experiences designed to give them a deeper understanding of community service and to introduce them to people, seminars, and events that hopefully will have an impact on their lives for years to come.

There is a saying that circulates from time to time, “Each One, Teach One,” meaning that if each person would reach out to another and teach them just a small piece of what they have learned, the world would be a better place. So it is with our parent organization, The Links, Incorporated, we join in this endeavor. Founded in 1946, The Links, Inc., is one of the oldest volunteer service organizations in the country. Our stellar organization is comprised of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Phoenix Chapter takes that commitment very seriously and we consider it our calling to reach out and teach our rich African and African American culture and history to everyone we encounter especially to the young ladies presented to you this evening.

Please enjoy the evening as the 2012 Debutantes delight you with a Cotillion production that can only be described as Beautiful.

Dr. Kay Lovelace Taylor, President Phoenix Chapter of Links, Incorporated

Greeting from the President

5

Beautiful is the theme of the 2012 31st Biennial Charity Cotillion. Indeed the theme captures the very essence of the fifteen young ladies presented to society this evening beautifully.

On behalf of the Phoenix Chapter of Links, words cannot express how delighted our membership is to have this wonderful opportunity to be involved with each of the Debutantes over the last eight months. Under the direction of the Cotillion Chairperson, Dr. Michele Halyard-Robinson, members of the Phoenix Chapter of Links have worked diligently to involve the girls in a variety of experiences designed to give them a deeper understanding of community service and to introduce them to people, seminars, and events that hopefully will have an impact on their lives for years to come. After weeks of rehearsals their involvement will culminate this evening in a spectacular presentation that will allow you to meet each Debutante; hear about her accomplishments socially and academically; meet her parents; and be enthralled as she and her sister Debutantes dance in the arms of their fathers or select guardians.

There is a saying that circulates from time to time, “Each One, Teach One,” meaning that if each person would reach out to another and teach them just a small piece of what they have learned, the world would be a better place. So it is with our parent organization The Links, Incorporated founded in 1946 one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations in the country. Our stellar organization is comprised of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 274 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The Phoenix Chapter of the Links, Incorporated takes that commitment very seriously and considers it our calling to reach out and teach our rich African and African American culture and history to everyone we encounter especially to the young ladies presented to you this evening. .

Across the 42 states of Linkdom, thousands of girls have had the opportunity of transforming into a Link Debutante, one of the highest honors a young girl can achieve. We know that the Phoenix Chapter has impacted the lives of approximately 300 select young ladies since our first Debutante Cotillion in 1954 some of whom are in the audience this evening. Needless to say, we hope to continue to have this privilege for many more years to come.

Please enjoy the evening as the 2012 Debutants delight you with a Cotillion production that can only be described as Beautiful.

Dr. Kay Lovelace Taylor, President Phoenix Chapter of Links, Incorporated Authorship

Greetings from the Cotillionette Co-Chairs

6

Phoenix Chapter of the Links, Inc.

Rosalyn Keith

Kay Lovelace Taylor, President

Thelma Lovette Morris,

Vice President

Beatrice C. Olivier, Archivist

Marjorie Kyle, Corresponding

Secretary

Renee Scott, Recording Secretary

Margaret Baylor, Program Facet Coordinator

Lois Walker, Financial Secretary

Tonette Echols, Parliamentarian

Katrina Covington-Whitmore

Linda G. Walton, Treasurer

Michele Halyard

Jennifer Harper, Immediate

Past President

ALUMNAE MEMBERSWinstona AldridgeJuanita ClardyClendolyn CorbinGwendolyn GoodmanJoan KelleyDoris McCarroll-Pelke

Annette B. McHenry Norma ReaginLaura RooksJuanita Scott Olgia ScottAnn H. Wade

Not PictUREdMargaret BaylorBarbra Watson-RileyJacqueline WoodsMary Wright

Officers

Cotillion General Chair Co-cotillion Chairs

7

Judy Greene

Annye Nicholes

Lovie West Laura Rooksalumna member

Holly Underwood Camilla Westenberg

Ann Hart Ella HollandCorenthel Greene

Dana Jamison

Maria Humphries

Cheryl Pete

Beverly Arrington

Carolyn Robinson

Juanita Clardy

Joy Johnson

Dene Wallace

Lindell Collins

Martha StewartMarian Rhodes

Joyce Daily-Buford

Grace Strauther

Mavis Edwards

Joan M. Sherwood

Angel Okrah

Members

8

Escorts

Deandre Norman

Jevin D. Hodge

Mario Gates

Harrington Byron Autry II

Terrell Harrison

Anthony Hakeem Cutright

Ronald Horne

David Jordan Burkholder

9

Escorts

Marquese James Whitehead

Kelvan Brewell Pilot

Cody Jerard Williams

Xavier Walker

Brandon Norwood Pearson

LaRon Tarkington

Stephon Wells

10

Ayanna Akinyemi-Nicholes is the daughter of the Risen King as well as her parents, Ms. May Akinyemi and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent and Ericka Nicholes.

Ayanna is a junior at West Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona, where she has maintained a 4.0 GPA. Out of all her classes, she enjoys her math and science classes the most. She has taken one dual credit course and plans to take many more her senior year. In the 9th and 10th grade, Ayanna was the youngest member of her school’s Academic Decathlon team and is now a member of the National Honors Society, Phoenix Chapter of Jack and Jill, and the NAACP. She has also been part of her school’s swim and track teams. She plans to attend college out of state, preferably at a Historically Black College or University, where she will study to become a pediatrician.

Ayanna participates in many community service projects such as mission trips with her church as well as helping feed the homeless. She attends both Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix and Bethel Church in Chandler where she is active in the youth group and has participated in several mission trips. Ayanna is also very involved involved in the Children’s where she is able to exhibit a love for children that she’s had ever since she, herself, was a child. Another favorite hobby of Ayanna’s is babysitting for family and friends whenever possible.

Ayanna is very passionate about children, which is one of many reasons why she has decided to become a pediatrician. She feels a calling on her life to help children around the world dealing with disease and sickness. Along with her passion for children, she also has a passion for math and science. This has played a role in her decision to become a pediatrician because she loves hands-on activities that also challenge the mind.

Another characteristic Ayanna displays is a love for people in general and their well-being. She loves to help out where help is needed and enjoys volunteering anywhere she can. Helping people is something she wants to do for the rest of her life and a dream of hers is to travel the world doing just that. That said, Ayanna is open to whatever God has planned for her life. One of her favorite Bible verses is Jeremiah 29:11; For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future. This has been a verse that Ayanna has lived by for years because it reminds her that no matter what she faces in life, God has a plan for her and will see her through.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:14-15

Debutante Ayanna Akinyemi-Nicholes

11

12

Congratula*ons  Ayanna  &  TaMara  On  becoming  Debutantes!    We  wish  You  so  much  success.      

Love,  The  Bullocks    Jack  and  Jill  ~  Phoenix  Chapter  

TaMara &AyannaWe are so proudof you and theyoung ladies youare becoming welove and wishyou the best!The Gladney/Thompson Family

TaMara & AyannaCongrat's on becomingdebutante's. Pleaseremember to strive forexcellence and keep Godfirst!

- Dr. Kellie Warren