Amelia Bryan and Jonathan Friedman The Marriott in downtown Columbia was the sight of the Columbia Junior Cotillion 2009 Grand Ball March 29. Dozens of second year Junior Cotillion participants were celebrating completion of two years of training in dance and social graces.

The students gathered for a five course instructional dinner. The menu included minestrone soup and a fresh fruit plate salad followed by lemon sorbet to cleanse the palate. The main course of teriyaki chicken, wild rice, and green beans with water chestnuts followed. The meal was topped off with a tiramisu.

Jan Cohn, the Junior Cotillion director, coached students on the appropriate use of utensils, serving/ clearing signals, and proper table etiquette. After graciously thanking the servers, the students scurried to the dance floor to practice dance etiquette and escort protocol one last time as Junior Cotillion students. Cohn is hopeful that they will be practicing these same skills in real life for years to come.

After a bit of practice and review of dance steps, the students took part in several dance contests judged by the parent chaperones. Senior assistants Leslie Clare Lyon and Pierce Jones did a shag demonstration. After the demonstration, students took the floor to practice grapevine turns, pretzels, waltzes, foxtrots, and even the electric slide.

Ansley Seay and Chris Kennedy Some of the parent chaperons joined the students on the dance floor. Meanwhile, Cohn stood by beaming proudly.

Cohn said, "Every year at the Year Two Spring Ball, I give an award to four students (two ladies and two gentlemen) for their outstanding conduct through the two- year course. They actually practice what I preach by showing honor, dignity, and respect to both their peers and adults alike. They have proven themselves to be good role models headed down the road to success. The recipients of this award are Perrin Griffin, Sydney Stewart, William Stubbs, and Evan Greene."

This year, Cohn will say goodbye to her largest group of senior assistances as she watches them graduate and go to college. Some like Travis Stewart won't be going far. He hopes to attend the University of South Carolina and study biomedical engineering. Jeanne Marie Skipper is headed for Midlands Tech & USC; Charley Fitzsimons is planning to study at Presbyterian College; and Jeremy Moore who is undecided is looking to major in Business. Twins James and John McArver are deciding among Winthrop University, Lenoir Rhyne, and Furman University maybe majoring in astrophysics and photography. Leslie Clare Lyon wishes to study English or psychology at Clemson or USC.

Charnae Wingard and Mark Brailsford These young people have made lifelong friends and learned valuable skills for the future during their tenure in Junior Cotillion.

Charley Fitzsimmons and Austin Layden Josh Baker and Sarah Louise Temple Jessica Skipper and Thomas Burke Taylor Stewart and J.P. Prince Leighton Pugh and Jarrod Maldonado Charlie Black and Anna Bryan Cymone Reed and Nicholas Kelley Catherine Collins, Jean Marie Skipper, and Mary Margaret Collins Samantha Duncan and Michael Slattery Leslie Clare Lyon and Pierce Jones Leslie Hixon and Ian Burnette Tori Hixon and Robert Gay Sydney and Travis Stewart Shyla Brailsford and Christian Henshaw Vera Savory and Vincent Duhe Sophia Mandell and Hampton Drake