By OBSERVER Newsroom
![Prospective Debutante parents are shown, left to right, Joe and Bennae Dillingham, Phil and Nicole Dillingham, Pastor Stefon and first lady Tye DuBose, Michael and Andrea Faust, John and Nicole Fitt, Terrence and Linda Martin, Jon and Erica McFall, Esther Mumbi, and James and Makicha Wartson. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER](https://neojimcrow.art/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC7426-jpeg.webp)
The 2023 Champagne Sip hosted by the Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, as part of the 57th Annual Debutante Ball Season, accomplished at least two important priorities in a single event. First, the focus on acknowledging the parents of this year’s prospective debutante and escort parents is part of a long standing tradition of each season. Sip planning committee members, along with Champagne Sip leads, Theresa Taylor-Carroll and Alyssa Qualls, agree that “it is essential to honor the many supportive parents who make so many achievements and dreams possible for their children.” Second, the selected location at Antiquité Maison Privée continues one of the chapter’s many commitments, this one being the targeted support of African American owned and/or founded businesses.
Held September 17, 2023, the sip was a wonderful opportunity for the parents of the prospective debutantes and the parents of their respective escorts to get acquainted with one another and with members of the Eta Gamma Omega Chapter as the season prepares to close next month with the ball. And though the elegant afternoon was all about the parents, a larger theme was of course that it’s also all about the youth, our future leaders, this year’s prospective debutantes.
![Escort parents are shown, left ro right, Ronnie and LaToya Walton, Tony and Monique Jones, Brenda Dabney, Cynthia Hall, Shannon Scott, and Arguster and Natasha Miller. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER](https://i0.wp.com/sacobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC7435.jpeg?resize=610%2C406&ssl=1)
They are: Alyssa Janelle Dillingham, American River College; Jordan Brianna Dillingham, Inderkum High School; Aniyah La’Erika MeéChe DuBose, Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School; Anissa Grace Faust, The Cottonwood Charter Schools; Skylar Maidu Fitt, John F. Kennedy High School; Nariah Alexandria Martin, Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School; Madelyn Jonee McFall, John F. Kennedy High School; Arianna Renee Wambui Mumbi, Pleasant Grove High School; Jaya Micha Wartson, Dixon High School; and Mia Soleil Williams, C.K. McClatchy High School.
The ball is a major scholarship fundraiser for the chapter, contributing to the funding of over $500,000 in local scholarships since its 1962 inception. Information about the event and tickets is available at https://www.etagammaomega.org/hgo-debutante-ball.