Hot Springs Debutantes presented at 72nd Annual Red Rose Presentation and Ball

The Hot Springs Debutante Coterie presented 19 young ladies to society at the 72nd Annual Red Rose Charity Ball in the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa's Crystal Ballroom on Dec. 16.

The ballroom was decorated with hundreds of red roses that provided a stunning backdrop for the presentation by Master of Ceremony Forrest Spicher. Music by the Clyde Pound Trio, with Paul Stivitts on drums, David Higginbotham on upright bass and Clyde Pound on keyboard, accompanied the young ladies during the presentation.

Afterwards, the debutantes, their friends and families attended a reception and dance with music provided by the band Moxie. A private candlelight dinner was held at the Arlington prior to the presentation for the debutantes and their families.

The previous evening, debutantes and their escorts were treated to a rehearsal dinner in the Fountain Room of the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. Hostesses were Mrs. Neeraj Bharany, Mrs. Berry Bishop, Dr. Lindsey Dolan, Mrs. Shane Hardin, Mrs. Joe Howe, Malka Ivy, Mrs. Chad Lockwood, Mrs. Eric Monte, Mrs. Len Pitcock, Mrs. Brooks T. Rice, Mrs. Gregory Schaffer and Mrs. Lamar Trieschmann.

The Hot Springs Debutante Program works to impart the social and moral responsibility of community service through participation in Our Promise Cancer Resources. This local nonprofit organization provides financial, professional and educational assistance to cancer patients and their families. All funds raised by Our Promise Cancer Resources stay in the local community -- an important factor to both Our Promise and the Hot Springs Debutante Coterie.

Over the past five years, the Debutante Coterie has raised approximately $50,000 for Our Promise, with this year's guests contributing more than $9,000 to the grand total. The members of the 2017 Debutante Coterie participated in the Our Promise program entitled Creations of Hope. The project is the brainchild of Frances Iverson, a debutante sponsor and cancer survivor. Creations of Hope begin as bare mannequin heads and are transformed into symbols of hope and inspiration for lives touched by cancer. The debutante's Creations of Hope were displayed to guests, along with a descriptive paragraph written by each debutante, and will be given to a recipient who is associated with the debutante's inspiration for her Creation of Hope.

Hot Springs Debutante Coterie Sponsors are: Mrs. Brian Gehrki, Mrs. William Ahlbrandt, Mrs. Thomas Pierce III, Mrs. Benjamin Iverson, Mrs. Archie VanGorder III and Mrs. John Vines. Advisers to the board are former sponsors Mrs. James Latture, Mrs. Brad Hudgens, Mrs. Cecil Cupp III, Mrs. Kirby Williams and Mrs. William Blocker.

The young ladies making their debut were:

Emily Kathryn Brock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Brock II, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by Allen Blake Bonnette, the son of Virginia Bonnette and Daniel Bonnette, who attends Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

Laura Alison Carter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Toney, who attends the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. She was presented by her stepfather and escorted by her brother, David Graham Carter, who attends Hot Springs World Class High School.

Cathleen Ann Criss, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Criss Jr., who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, John Phillip Criss III, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Catherine Allison Dodd, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Dodd, who attends the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. She was presented by her father and escorted by Luke Thomas Mangan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Mangan, who attends the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Haleigh Miles Dooley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Dooley, who attends National Park College. She was presented by her father and escorted by her cousin, William James Ervin, of Gray Court, S.C.

Payton McKenzie Hamric, daughter of Valerie Hamric and Randall Hamric, who attends the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She was presented by her father and escorted by Cole Alexander Jones, the son of Nichole Jones and Jeffrey Jones, who attends Fountain Lake High School.

Mary Catherine Hancock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kendall Hancock, who attends Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Charles Robert Hancock, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Brooke Elizabeth Horton, daughter of Mrs. Jesse Slick and John Horton, who attends Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Blaine Michael Horton, who attends National Park College.

Madelyn Lake Lawrence, daughter of Mrs. Jay Shannon and Jason Lawrence, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by Steven Daniel Lowry, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Lowry, who attends Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Amy Ruth Luman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Luman, who attends the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. She was presented by her father and escorted by her cousin, Matthew Brice Luman, who attends Lake Hamilton High School.

Megan Elizabeth Morris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Morris, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, John Thomas Striednig, of Lubbock, Texas.

Tatum Brooke Rice, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Rice, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Tanner Webb Rice, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Madelyn Cate Rottinghaus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Rottinghaus, who attends Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. She was presented by her father and escorted by Joseph Cameron McRae, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Brian McRae, who attends Henderson State University in Arkadelphia.

Elliott Brooke Short, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reji Short, who attends Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Jacob William Short, who attends Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

Abby Elizabeth Simmons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Simmons, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Thomas Austin Simmons, who attends Harding University in Searcy.

Emily LaVinia Slay, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Slay, who attends the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. She was presented by her father and escorted by Ryan Thomas Viscardis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Viscardis, who attends the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

Rebecca Lynn Slay, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Slay, who attends the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Coburn Michael Slay, who attends the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Paige Anne Whitley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Blake Whitley, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by Matthew Powell Davis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Davis, who attends Arkansas Pulaski Technical College in Little Rock.

Caroline Benson Zeiser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jared Zeiser, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was presented by her father and escorted by her brother, Jared Carter Zeiser, who attends the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Society on 01/07/2018

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