WILLACY COUNTY - Front row, from left to right, Annalisa Garza, Chelsea Ramirez, Hilary Casarez. Back row, left to right, Clarissa Suarez, Cari Klostermann, Wesley Willis, Frankie Garcia, Alexsandra Trevino. The Lower Rio Grande Valley Cotillion Club held its Annual Presentation Ball on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at the Jacob Brown Auditorium in Brownsville.

The Cotillion Club was founded 56 years ago in September 1954 by Mrs. Byron Campbell of Raymondville as a social organization designed to bring together and present to society Lower Rio Grande Valley college-bound, civically and socially active girls. Many Rio Grande Valley women have fond memories of their own Cotillion presentations in years past. The Cotillion Club continues to be a two-year social club for selected junior and senior girls. The highlight of each year is the Presentation Ball.

The theme for the 2010 Presentation Ball was "A Night to Remember." The Jacob Brown Auditorium was transformed into a lovely ballroom filled with beautiful flowers and crystal for 118 junior debutants and senior members. Each girl, wearing a traditional long white ball gown and carrying a long stemmed rose, was formally presented by her father as classical music played in the background. The first dance after the presentation was reserved for the fathers. They danced with their lovely daughters to the tune of "My Girl." The fathers then relinquished their daughters to their escorts for the remainder of the evening. The young ladies and their escorts, as well as the senior members and their escorts, danced the remainder of the evening to the music of Take Two.

Beautiful floral arrangements of pink and white roses,, pink lilies, and curly willow atop mirrored vases and crystal trees with flowers at the base, adorned tables draped in white linens with beautiful ivory silk toppers. Armando's catered an elegant sit down dinner for the debutantes, senior members and their dates.

Masters of Ceremonies were Mr. Tony Limon and Mr. Will Ripley. The ball chairpersons were Mrs. Wanda Medellin and Mrs. Teri Youngblood, both of Harlingen. Receiving guests for the evening were the Cotillion executive board officers: Mrs. Cynthia Salinas, President Mrs. Sonia Rodriguez, president-elect; Mrs. Shaun Wadkins, secretary; Mrs. Sandra Tumberlinson, treasurer; Mrs. Veronica Torres, past president; Mrs. Debbie Groves, historian; Mrs. Susie Houston, Port Isabel; Mrs. Cindy Tones, La Feria; Mrs. Tanya Perez, Santa Rosa; Mrs. Dolores Ramirez, San Benito/Rio Hondo; and Mrs. Tracey Lassig, Willacy County.

New members are selected their junior year by an advisory board that considers leadership, community activities, college intentions and suggestions by senior advisory members. They represent Harlingen, Port Isabel, San Benito/Rio Hondo, La Feria/ Santa Rosa and Willacy County.

During their senior year, Cotillion members return to renew acquaintances at the fall luncheon and the formal ball. At the spring luncheon, they are familiarized with college requirements and activities.