Four Les Fleurettes debutantes to be presented

For the past 60 years The La Cañada Thursday Club has sponsored young women from the community in the “Bal Blanc de Noel” presentation of Les Fleurettes debutantes.

This year, the Thursday Club will present four young women to society on Friday evening, Dec. 30, at a black-tie gala to be held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The Bal Blanc de Noel is the culminating event which celebrates their completion of a 16-month program of social and community service, as well as cultural education, personal development training and etiquette instruction.

The presenter for the evening will be La Cañada Flintridge Mayor Dave Spence. During the ceremony, the Thursday Club will present the traditional camellia charm to each debutante as a gift from the club. Following the presentation, the debutantes will dance the traditional first waltz with their fathers.

Denise Greenawalt is chair of the debutante program and the Bal Blanc de Noel. Lorie Mackenzie is the Thursday Club’s Board of Directors liaison for the debutante class. Jane Mead is the group’s provisional chair.

Les Fleurettes provisionals who will be presented as debutantes on Friday night are: Kaitlin Nicole Abbott, Shannon Deirdre Burt, Morgan Eliza Devaud and Emily Rose Killam.

Kaitlin Nicole Abbott

Kaitlin Nicole Abbott is the daughter of Kevin and Julie Abbott and the granddaughter of Bob and Valerie Bates. She is a senior at La Cañada High School.

Kaitlin is on La Cañada High’s “Omega” yearbook staff and is a four-year member of the Interscholastic Equestrian League, La Cañada’s horseback riding show team.

Kaitlin has been a Girl Scout for the past 12 years and has earned both the Bronze and Silver awards. This past June, she received her Girl Scout Gold Award. Her project involved working with Descanso Gardens to plant and harvest a fruit and vegetable garden. After the harvest, she delivered the produce to a nearby food bank and created a calendar of classes for Descanso’s summer camps that emphasized the fertilizing, harvesting and pruning times of all the fruit trees on the property.

Kaitlin has participated in the La Cañada Presbyterian Church’s youth program for the past six years, serving as a small-group leader for two of those years. She also sings in the church’s choir.

Kaitlin enjoys working with children and has volunteered as a camp counselor for the YMCA, Girl Scouts and several local day camps. In her spare time, she enjoys going to the beach with friends, paddle boarding and watching movies.

Kaitlin plans to attend a four-year university in California where she hopes to study psychology or business management. She hopes to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Kaitlin is being presented by her father, Kevin Todd Abbott. Her escort is Joseph Donald Multari and her presentation song is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Shannon Deirdre Burt

Shannon Deirdre Burt is the daughter of Dr. Eric and Peggy Burt, and the granddaughter of Jeanne and Cliff Benson, Deirdre and Bill Anderson, and George and Sharon Burt. She is a senior at La Cañada High School.

Shannon is a member of the National Honor Society and has received the Art Achievement Award each year since 2008. She was recognized for her artistic ability in middle school and was accepted into Advanced Art class, which usually is reserved for high school artists. Her artwork was selected for display and auction at last year’s La Cañada Educational Foundation’s annual gala. She is the recipient of the Desi Geestman Courage Award for outstanding leadership, as well as the regional Unity Spirit Award at cheer camp.

Shannon has been on La Cañada High’s Pep Squad for three years as a member of Freshman Cheer, Junior Varsity Cheer, and the Flag Squad. She is also involved in the Baking Club, French Club, Coexist Club and the Green Club. As part of the Green Club, Shannon manages the school’s recycling program and raises awareness of environmental issues.

Shannon has volunteered with the YMCA’s Progressive Individual Leadership of Teens program, also known as PILOTS, where she planted trees in urban areas and participated in a beach clean up day. Shannon is currently involved in “Reading Partners,” a weekly program where she tutors and mentors an elementary school student. Shannon also enjoys painting, photography and baking. She puts her artistic skills to use by working part-time at a local scrap booking store.

Shannon plans to attend a four-year university where she will study fine arts and business. She would like to pursue a career in art and design.

Shannon Deidre Burt is being presented by her father, Dr. Eric Alban Burt. Her escort is Jonah Guttmann Mahrer and her presentation song is “Brown Eyed Girl.”

Morgan Eliza Devaud

Morgan Eliza Devaud is the daughter of Vincent and Vickie Devaud and the granddaughter of Lillian Victorian. She is a senior at La Cañada High School.

Morgan was honored as La Cañada High’s Student of the Quarter in English and history and has received the National Physical Education Award. She founded the school’s Dance Club and has served as its president and choreographer for the past four years. Under her leadership, the club grew into a class offered during STEP. Morgan participated on the Mock Trial team as the defense attorney and also as vice president. During Mock Trial, she defended her client in L.A. Superior Court in front of a jury of law students and an official judge.

Morgan had the opportunity to spend the summer of 2010 in Switzerland as a part of an international French language immersion program. While there, she experienced the Swiss-French culture, cuisine and arts.

Morgan was selected as a prom commissioner by her student body government and worked with two other students to organize a rock ‘n’ roll themed party held at a nightclub in Hollywood.

Morgan has served on two royal courts. She was a princess on the 2011 Miss La Cañada Flintridge court. She was also selected as a princess on the 2012 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court. As part of the Royal Court, she has been representing the Tournament of Roses at more than 165 public speaking and community service events between October and December, and will be in the 123rd Rose Parade and at the 98th Rose Bowl game.

In her spare time, Morgan enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Morgan plans to attend a four-year university in either California or Texas. She hopes to pursue a career as a broadcast journalist.

Morgan Eliza Devaud is being presented by her father, Vincent Devaud. Her presentation song is “Here Comes the Sun.”

Emily Rose Killam

Emily Rose Killam is the daughter of Dudley and Jennifer Killam, and the granddaughter of Dudley Sr. and Flora Killam and Edward and Anne Rose. She is a senior at La Cañada High School.

Emily is a member of the California Scholarship Federation and also the National Honor Society.

Emily has been involved in educational, cultural, and service clubs on campus throughout high school. She has been a German Club member since 2007 and is a staff photographer with the Omega yearbook. She has also been involved with the PTSA Club and Unicef Club. Emily is a four-year member of the Green Club and has served as its treasurer. She is co-founder of the Nature Conservancy Club.

Emily has been an active member of the Assistance League’s Assisteens for the past six years and has served as a representative in the California regional Assistance League conference. Through Assisteens, Emily has prepared and presented community programs supporting the disadvantaged and the homeless.

In her junior year, Emily was one of the youngest summer interns selected by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She organized, collected and preserved thousands of unique images and documents for JPL’s Deep Space Network satellite program. Emily’s work ensured that the history and achievements of unique JPL/NASA space missions will be preserved for future space historians and others interested in space travel.

Emily has been active in the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA’s California State Youth & Government program where she served in appellate court in Sacramento. An avid volunteer, Emily has served at the Pacific Asian Volunteer Association, the Pasadena Humane Society Animal Shelter and Descanso Gardens as a train conductor. Emily has also performed as a cellist in various recitals over the past eight years.

Emily plans to attend a four-year university where she hopes to concentrate on environmental studies or public relations.

Emily Rose Killam is being presented by her father, Dudley Bradstreet Killam, Jr. Her escort is Daniel Edward Killam and her presentation song is “Uptown Girl.”