Lower RGV Cotillion Club Holds Annual Presentation Ball

Updated: February 21, 2024

LFN Staff

The 70th Annual Presentation Ball of the Lower Valley Cotillion was held at the South Padre Island Convention Center on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

The Cotillion Club was founded in September of 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 select junior and senior girls. The highlight of each year is the Presentation Ball.

For this special celebration, the South Padre Island Convention Center was transformed into a breathtaking ballroom filled with beautiful flowers for all debutantes. Each junior girl, wearing a traditional long, white ball gown and carrying a long-stemmed rose, was formally presented by her father as enchanting music played in the background. The first dance after the presentation was reserved for the fathers. The fathers then relinquished their daughters to their escorts for the evening. The young ladies and their escorts and the senior members and their escorts danced the remainder of the evening.

New members of the Cotillion Club are selected for their junior year in high school by an advisory board that considers leadership, community activities, college intentions, and suggestions by their senior advisory members. Club members represent the cities of La Feria, Santa Rosa, San Benito, Rio Hondo, Port Isabel, and Willacy County. During their senior year, Cotillion members return to renew acquaintances at the Fall Luncheon and formal Presentation Ball. At the Spring Luncheon, they are familiarized with college requirements and activities.