Thursday Club to present 2016 Les Fleurettes
Having completed a 16-month program of social and community service, cultural education, personal development training and etiquette instruction, five young women will be presented to society on Friday, Dec. 30, during a black-tie gala at Oakmont Country Club.
Kelly Delaney, Sarah Lam, Lauren O’Brien, Margaret Rouleau and Kylie Smith are the members of this year’s class of Les Fleurettes, a program that has been sponsored since 1951 by the La Cañada Thursday Club.
The first Bal Blanc de Noël 65 years ago was also held at Oakmont, making it an apt venue for this year’s event, during which longtime Thursday Club member and debutante program supporter Vera Gragg will be honored. In fact, the ball will be dedicated to Gragg in recognition of her strong leadership over the past quarter century.
As they prepare to take their bows in front of family members and friends, each debutante will be formally introduced by Jon Curtis, mayor of the city of La Cañada Flintridge. Then, following a longtime club tradition, they will be gifted with a traditional camellia charm by Thursday Club President Sheri Morton. Immediately after the presentation, the young women will dance the traditional first waltz with their fathers.
Chairing this year’s Bal Blanc de Noel are Thursday Club members Judy Cooper and Jody Platisa; Kim Ortiz and Patti Wickersham served as co-chairs of the Les Fleurettes program.
Kelly Ann Delaney is the daughter of Linda and Michael Delaney, the granddaughter of Virginia Christopher, Kenneth Christopher, and Frances and James Delaney.
A senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Kelly is a member of her school’s Feminists in Action Club, Animal Club, Young Writers Society, and is a member of the yearbook staff. She has also been involved with the theater program and is a member of the swim team. She serves on the FSHA Student Alumnae Relations Council.
Diagnosed at age 3 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Kelly currently represents the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a junior candidate, leading fundraising activities. As a cancer survivor, she would like to attend college in California and pursue a career in occupational therapy helping children with cancer.
Kelly participates in the YMCA’s Youth and Government program and, for the past two years, served as a counselor at the Y’s Camp Fox on Catalina Island. She also serves as a teen lead for the confirmation program at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, and tutors elementary school children in Highland Park.
Sarah Davis Lam is the daughter of Merrill Flood and Jon Lam, the granddaughter of Constance and Leslie Sheppard, and Viola and Ron Lam.
Sarah is a senior at La Cañada High School, where she was a member of the freshman and varsity cheer squads. As a sophomore, she volunteered as a student trainer for the Gladiators, La Cañada’s youth football program, assisting girls in beginning cheerleading. When not cheering, Sarah loves attending the Spartan softball, basketball and football games and rooting for her teams.
Outside of school, she has taken part in competitive sports, focusing on club soccer and tournament softball, both of which she started playing at the age of 4. She is also an avid hiker.
Sarah volunteered with the Make a Wish Foundation, where she especially enjoyed writing letters and sending Christmas cards to young patients and participating in fundraising activities to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
With an interest in behavioral neuroscience and human resources, Sarah hopes to attend college on the West Coast to study psychology and management.
Lauren Marie O’Brien is the daughter of Lo-Mari and Robert O’Brien, the granddaughter of Judy and the late Robert O’Brien, and Maretha and Christo Thuynsma.
She is a senior at La Cañada High School where she enjoys music and drama. An accomplished violinist, Lauren began playing at the age of 4, and has been in the orchestra since her freshmen year. She also has participated in the LCHS theater program, performing in several plays. She has been a member of the varsity tennis team since her junior year and is currently serving as the team treasurer. She also competes on the varsity track team.
Lauren travels often to Southern Africa to see her grandparents. While visiting a township in Cape Town, she was inspired to organize several projects to benefit the local people and also earn her Girl Scout Gold Award.
This past summer Lauren attended the Air Force Academy Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, which prompted her to start pilot lessons. She looks forward to her first solo flight. Lauren plans to apply to a university and participate in its ROTC program.
Margaret Lark (“Maggie”) Rouleau is the daughter of Lilli and Duncan Rouleau, the granddaughter of Margery Rouleau and of Marjorie Fields, the latter a La Cañada Thursday Club member.
Maggie is a senior at La Cañada High School where she is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. Passionate about the performing arts, she has been involved in the LCHS theater arts program since she was a freshman. Maggie is a member of the school’s Comedy Sportz team.
She also loves to sing and was named to the LCHS Chamber Choir. With the Chamber singers, Maggie traveled to Chicago and Spain and has sung in many famous churches.
Maggie enjoyed playing two years on her school’s softball team. She has been active for the last three years in the YMCA’s Youth and Government program.
As a junior, through the charitable organization, Cross Cultural Solutions, Maggie traveled to Dharamsala, India. There she worked with disadvantaged children helping them learn social skills and personal health care.
Maggie plans to attend a college or university to study acting. She hopes to have a lifelong career in the performing arts.
Kylie Brieann Smith is the daughter of Sandra and Clinton Todd Smith, and the granddaughter of Karlyn Smith.
She is a senior at La Cañada High School where she is enrolled in Honors French 4, is an officer in the French Club and expects to earn her seal of biliteracy in June.
Kylie participated on the LCHS pep squad for two years, and cheered for the youth football program, the La Cañada Gladiators, for six years. For the past four years Kylie has been a volunteer student coach for the Gladiators program where she trains aspiring cheerleaders.
She has been an active volunteer for the Special Olympics and Ahead with Horses. Her interest in special education grew from her strong connection with her cousin, Ashley, now 21. Although Ashley faces physical and developmental challenges, she always maintains a keen sense of humor. One of Kylie’s goals is to teach creative classes for special education students.
Kylie would like to attend a university out of state. She plans to pursue a career in communications.
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Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com
Twitter: @CarolCormaci
