Local cotillion director receives national award
Susan Humphries, director of the National League of Junior Cotillions Chapters in Hot Springs, Arkadelphia, Saline County, Faulkner County and Texarkana, was recently awarded the 2018 Anne Winters Award from the National League of Junior Cotillions headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.
This award is presented to honor Anne Colvin Winters, the original founder of the National League of Junior Cotillions, who established a foundation of respect, courtesy and faith. “Though she is no longer with us, her legacy lives on through the directors who chose to educate today’s youth through the NLJC curriculum,” states the press release.
Humphries has been given the 2018 Anne Winters Award, which recognizes her as a director who “exhibits the true character traits of cotillion. She is very dedicated to the program and to her community.”
“We are proud to have Susan Humphries representing this very valuable program to our nation’s youth,” said Charles Winters, NLJC president, in the release. “Not every director receives an award — only the most outstanding directors across the nation are chosen. Mrs. Humphries has touched the lives of approximately 10,000 young people for which we are grateful.”
During her 26 year tenure as director for NLJC, Humphries has received numerous past awards from NLJC. In past years, she has served as a regional director for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, and on the NLJC National Advisory Board.
“Mrs. Humphries was chosen for her dedication to the NLJC program, her enthusiasm for the curriculum and her leadership abilities. She has been a great encouragement to all directors and sets a wonderful example through her own high-quality programs,” continued Winters.
The local cotillion chapter teaches area youths etiquette and social dance.
The purpose of the National
League of Junior Cotillions program is to give students training and practice in the social courtesies needed for better relationships with their family and friends, and instruction in ballroom dance. Students actively learn life skills through a creative method employing role-playing, skits and games.
The social behavior component ranges from rules of conversation to table manners.
Among other topics are posture, receiving lines, telephone etiquette and the proper way to get into coats and through doors. Students are introduced to such areas as responding to invitations, writing thank-you letters, paying and receiving compliments, and sportsmanship.
Humphries and her husband, Patrick, have directed NLJC programs in the state since 1993. Junior Cotillion is open to any interested boy or girl in grades sixth through ninth in the county. For information about the local program or to get a child’s name on future invitation lists, email Humphries at susan.humphries@ nljc.com.