The NAACP Staten Island Branch Cotillion Returns

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Applications are now open for the 2027 NAACP Staten Island Cotillion.

The NAACP Staten Island Branch is proud to reintroduce this longstanding tradition with A Renaissance of Becoming: Honoring Her Voice, Power, and Purpose—a transformative experience designed to inspire young people to discover their voice, embrace their potential, develop leadership skills, and deepen their connection to community.

The Cotillion is more than a formal presentation. It is a culminating leadership, cultural, civic, academic, social, and service-learning experience that provides participants with opportunities to grow personally and professionally while building meaningful connections with their peers and community.

The program will culminate in a formal Cotillion Ball on July 3, 2027, where debutantes will be presented alongside their escorts in a celebration of their accomplishments and journey.

 A Season of Becoming

Throughout the program, participants will engage in experiences designed to encourage:

Leadership

Build confidence, communication skills, and leadership capacity.

Culture & History

Explore cultural heritage, history, identity, and the contributions of those who came before us.

Civic Engagement

Develop an understanding of civic responsibility, advocacy, community involvement, and service.

Academic & Professional Development

Gain tools and experiences that support future educational and career goals.

Community Service

Participate in meaningful service-learning projects that connect participants to the Staten Island community.

Personal Growth

Create space for reflection, purpose, confidence, and the development of lifelong relationships.

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Who Can Apply?

The Cotillion is open to young women and young men who meet the following requirements.

Debutantes & Escorts must:

1. Be a current high school junior or senior.
2. Have a minimum 2.5 GPA for consideration.
3. Be under 19 years old at the time of the 2027 Cotillion Ball.
4. Reside in Staten Island, NY.
5. Submit two letters of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator, employer, community leader, or other appropriate non-family member.
6. Submit an updated resume.
7. Submit an essay explaining how you believe the Cotillion experience could change your life.
8. Commit to participating in all Cotillion service-learning projects, activities, and training in Staten Island.
9. Upload a current photograph.
10. Submit the required application fee.

Family members may not provide letters of recommendation.

Application Fee

A non-refundable $50 application fee is required when submitting the completed application.

Reduced Fee: $25

Applicants who are currently eligible for or receiving free or reduced-price lunch may submit a reduced, non-refundable application fee of $25.

If you are experiencing difficulty paying the application fee, please contact us. We want to ensure that interested and eligible young people have an opportunity to participate.

Email: naacpsicotillion@gmail.com

Participation Fee

Following acceptance into the program, participants will be responsible for the following participation fees: 

• Debutantes $250
• Escorts $150

The participation fee covers materials and resources associated with:

• Educational workshops
• Service-learning activities
• Cotillion programming
• Debutante and escort activities
• Program-related materials
• Participation fees are due at the October Orientation Meeting.

The Journey Culminates in a Celebration on July 3, 2027

The Cotillion experience will culminate with a formal Cotillion Ball, where participating debutantes will be presented alongside their escorts.

This special evening will celebrate the growth, accomplishments, relationships, and experiences developed throughout the program—and create memories that participants and their families can carry with them for years to come.